Unite urges Falkirk coach builder to save jobs
13th November 2009
Falkirk-based coach builder Alexander Dennis was today (Friday)
urged to waste no more time and work with Unite the union to help
protect jobs at the plant.
Unite, the UK’s largest union, is concerned that the
manufacturer is asking workers to shoulder further serious wage
cuts as it seeks to cope with the impact of the recession. The
union also wants to talk urgently with the company about press
rumours that over 200 jobs could be at risk so that discussions can
get underway on alternatives to losing skilled workers from the
plant.
Unite says that the workers are already on a shorter working
week, down to four-days since September 21st, 2009, and have
accepted that while they lose out on wages, short-time working
means they stand a greater chance of saving jobs for themselves and
their colleagues.
Only three weeks ago, both the company and the union agreed that
there would be an extension to the four-day week agreement until
late March 2010. Given this, Unite says that the company must not
rush to slash wages further as the short-time working arrangements
should allow sufficient time for anticipated orders to come
on-stream. This agreement also contained a commitment to move
holiday leave from September 2010 to January 2010 to extend the
Christmas and New Year holiday break, again to keep cash in the
business and protect jobs.
Scott Foley, Unite regional industrial organiser, said: "The
union has retained a commitment to continue dialogue with
management representatives to reach an amicable resolution to the
current difficulties.
“Our members fully understand the difficult trading conditions
the company faces in the short term, however, our members also
believe that any financial hit should apply equally to all workers
at the site, including the senior management team.
“The negotiating team will meet with management on Tuesday,
November 17th, 2009, and will provide an alternative set of
proposals in line with our members’ wishes."
On Monday 9th November 2009 Unite was presented with new company
proposals. These could see workers lose a further £43.00 per week
from their wages, along with the banking of 60 hours which would be
repayable in full to the company. With the workers already
shouldering wage losses due to reduced working time, Unite believes
further cuts would be very hard for the workers to endure. Unite
questions why further wage losses are necessary when it is
anticipated that the market conditions will improve soon.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Scott Foley on 07810
157915 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 7420
8914 or 07980 224761.
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