Support manufacturing call

Today’s (Monday January 11) annual survey by the manufacturers’ organisation EEF shows that Britain is becoming less competitive as a base for manufacturers.

 

“The EEF’s survey is yet another wake up call to the government,” said Tony Burke, Unite assistant general secretary.

 

“We saw in the steel sector the consequences of not having an integrated strategy for manufacturing – the plant at Redcar closed and with it a national asset and over 2,000 skilled jobs were lost along with thousands more in the supply chain,” he added.

 

Manufacturing directly employs 2.6m and accounts for 54 per cent of UK exports.

 

The lack of a coherent industrial strategy from the government is holding back the sector and jeopardising thousands of highly skilled well paid jobs.

 

EEF chief economist Lee Hopley said the survey reflected growing concerns about rising labour costs and regulations.

 

“Manufacturing is the greatest creator of wealth this country has,” said Tony.

 

“The government needs to stop sloganeering and do some serious work to support manufacturers like governments in our competitor nations such as Germany do,” he added.

 

Unite is also concerned about employers breaking up skilled workforces and trying to impose lower pay and conditions as the answer to the dilemmas facing manufacturing.

 

“We know from past experience that those employers who engage the workers and their unions are the ones still standing when the storm passes.

 

“We have been here before with the minimum wage and no jobs were lost over what was arguably a far more demanding pay improvement than Osborne’s effort which will only apply to the over-25s,” added Tony.