Unite welcomes Brown's pledge to protect workers during tough times
8 January 2009
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, the UK's biggest
union, today (Thursday) welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to
protect working people during what is set to become the most
difficult economic times of recent memory.
Following a visit from Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Unite's
Liverpool offices, Tony Woodley said: "The bald reality is that
these are the toughest economic times in recent memory and working
people are frightened for their futures. We heard today from
the Prime Minister that he is fully focussed on protecting jobs and
working people. His number one priority is protecting this
country from the damage wrecked on the international economy by the
spivs and speculators.
"Unlike the do-nothing Tories who would abandon workers, Gordon
Brown has said he will not walk away and leave working people to
deal with life without a wage and a future on the dole. That
tired Thatcherite dogma has rightly been banished to the Dark Ages
where it belongs.
"The priorities now must be job protection and creation as to
keep our economy moving and get us through these harsh economic
times. This means being bold, being brave and being
Labour."
Welcoming the Prime Minister's key pledges of action to ensure
that bank bailout money flows to struggling businesses, of
investment in projects for the future to create jobs, and to put
guarantees in place to ensure people can stay in their homes if
they cannot meet their mortgage payments, Tony Woodley
added:
"Our core industries, like manufacturing, are taking a
battering. Jobs and communities are being hit hard, they fear
what is to come and they need every assistance their Government can
provide.
"Strategic support and intervention for our industries must now
be the priorities. The banks' collapse has caused turmoil,
but we know that this Government will be working day and night to
reassure working people that support is at hand and the vital hope
that a brighter future for our country is not a pipe dream."
ENDS
For further information, contact Pauline Doyle, Unite head of
press and campaigns, on 07976 832 861
Email to a friend
Want to share this story? These sites allow you to tag and share links across the internet enabling you to share these links with friends and people with similar interests. You can also access your links from any computer you happen to be using.
