SNP produces ’feeble‘ case for defence industry in Scotland
13 September 2010
Unions have today (13 September) criticised the SNP government
for producing a "feeble" case for protecting the defence industry
in Scotland.
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU)
says the SNP government's draft submission to the strategic
security and defence review failed to take account of the views of
7,000 defence workers, the outcome was a weak case and a missed
opportunity.
The Scottish government did not invite the trade unions to
today’s (13 September) cross-party discussions, despite Scottish
Labour leader Iain Gray calling for a joint meeting last week,
involving political parties and unions. For some reason the SNP
chose to ignore the unions.
Hugh Scullion, general secretary of the CSEU, said: "By failing
to take account of the views of workers in the defence industry the
SNP government produced a feeble case for protecting jobs in
Scotland.
"The submission persuades no one of the case for the Scottish
defence industry or the military bases currently sited in Scotland,
and weakens the case for the aircraft carriers to be completed in
Scotland. "
"The case for thousands of jobs would have been stronger and
more robust with trade union input. We hope the SNP government will
now engage fully with the unions for the sake of thousands of
skilled Scottish workers."
ENDS
Contact Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
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