Savage cull

German engineering giant Siemens announced yesterday (May 7) its plans to slash 4,500 jobs across the board – a further savage cull following their announcement in February that 7,800 posts would go.

Unite called for immediate clarification from Siemens management over the fate of the nearly 14,000 UK workers it employs.

“While it is saying that 2,200 of the 4,500 jobs under threat will be cut in Germany, it has declined to say where the axe for the other half will fall,” said Unite national officer Linda McCulloch.

“Unite will be seeking an urgent meeting with Siemens to get assurances on job security for our members in the UK,” she added. “We have to ask why yesterday – when the media was fully concentrating on the general election – was chosen to make this grim announcement for workers and their families.

“Was there collusion between coalition ministers and Siemens over the timing of these job losses?”