Unite criticises the Scottish government for failing to support
jobs
30th October 2009
Unite, Scotland’s largest trade union, has today condemned the
Scottish government’s decision to scrap the £120 million Glasgow
Airport rail link amid growing criticism.
Finance secretary, John Swinney, told the Scottish parliament
the rail link had to be scrapped in this year’s Scottish budget.
The Glasgow Airport rail link was due to open in time for the 2014
Commonwealth Games and was originally proposed by Strathclyde
Partnership for Transport which won backing from MSPs for the plan
in 2006.
It has been estimated that up to £182 million had been earmarked
for improving the line between Glasgow and Paisley with £47 million
already spent on station improvements to Glasgow Central and new
track and signalling. Scottish ministers estimated that the project
would have generated 1,300 jobs in total.
John Quigley, Unite Scotland regional secretary, said: “The
Glasgow Airport rail link is a vital piece of the infrastructure
needed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but it is also essential
for the wider west of Scotland economy. It is estimated that the
project would have created 1,300 jobs and safeguarded jobs
dependent on Glasgow Airport by improving connectivity and
transport integration.
"Infrastructural projects do create jobs unlike the spurious
claims by the Scottish government that business rate taxation cuts
have positive effects on employment levels. The Scottish government
should be focusing on supporting and creating jobs but these latest
actions call that seriously into question.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew Brady on 0141 404
1881 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8914
or 07980 224761.
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