Unite for Jobs: Union and business join forces to push for
road map out of recession
27 March 2009
PRESS CONFERENCE
10am, Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Unite the union offices
35 King Street
London WC2E 8JG
This Tuesday (March 31st) will see the launch of Unite for Jobs,
a major drive to secure urgent and strategic assistance for UK
manufacturing and a clear plan for defending and creating jobs. The
move comes amid mounting concern that government action so far is
insufficient to avert chronic and lasting damage to UK
manufacturing.
The campaign, led by Unite, will mark the beginning of a
sustained initiative, bringing together leading figures in
business, politics and academia with the country's biggest union to
press the case for a jobs strategy with manufacturing placed firmly
at the heart of a national programme to propel the UK out of
recession.
Unite for Jobs will be launched at a press conference,10am,
Tuesday, March 31st at Unite's King Street offices by an expert
panel consisting of
- Tony Woodley, joint general secretary, Unite
- Derek Simpson, joint general secretary, Unite
- Lord Jones of Birmingham, (Digby Jones), former trade minister
and ex-CBI chief
- Paul Everitt, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers
(invited)
- Professor David Bailey, Director of Birmingham Business School,
University of Birmingham
- Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham
At the press conference, the speakers will set out their ideas
for action to preserve jobs, and in particular to restore the UK's
manufacturing sector to the heart of the economy.
The press conference will also see the announcement of a major
initiative to mobilise the public for action on jobs.
According to Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite:
"The Government acted boldly when it came to rescuing those banks
brought to their knees by greed and misdeeds of a few. Working
people desperately need to see more of the same spirit when it
comes to helping them keep their jobs.
"Every effort must be made to keep the lights on in factories
and homes across the country. Government must now grasp the hand of
expert help being offered so we work together to take the right
road out of recession."
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary added: "Daily,
workers are paying the price for this recession with their jobs.
Whether it is manufacturing, construction, finance or retail, the
job losses are mounting up.
"This is the time to invest in support for existing jobs and to
be clear on the strategy for creating new ones. We cannot allow
this recession to destroy our skills base and our communities, and
we must set out the vision for future success so that employers and
workers can have confidence that the dark days of the recession
will soon come to an end."
ENDS
For further information about the press conference and to advise
of your attendance, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861
or email pauline.doyle@unitetheunion.org
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