'Tories damaging for manufacturing' Unite to tell SIMA conference
28 October 2011
Unite’s assistant general secretary responsible for
manufacturing, Tony Burke, will address the Steel Industry Managers
Association (SIMA) conference in Blackpool tomorrow (Saturday 29
October) and warn delegates that the Tory-led coalition government
is doing more damage to UK manufacturing than any previous
Conservative government.
He will say: “We are the seventh largest manufacturer in the
world. Manufacturing contributes over £140 billion per annum to our
economy and provides 55 per cent of UK exports, employing over 2.5
million people providing real jobs at every level, from innovation
and research to production and marketing.
“However, all of that has been put at risk by a Tory-led
coalition government which is strong on manufacturing rhetoric but
weak on delivery. For some of us, the black period of the 1980s
will bring back dark memories of the destruction of the UK’s
manufacturing base, when unemployment rose to over three million
and the industrial heartland was laid waste by Thatcher’s
government. This is now being closely mirrored by the same
ideology, but now clothed in modern softness by the Cameron/Clegg
government.
“The failure then for the government to adopt an industrial
policy and manufacturing strategy to support change is another
factor mirrored in today’s UK. Its determination to cut public
services, at a rate which no economy could sustain without immense
and unnecessary hardship, means this government is repeating the
mistakes of Thatcher.
“On the back of the cuts agenda, this government has tied its
own hands behind its back through an economic strategy wedded to
public service destruction whilst placing a reliance on the
discredited market to solve private sector ills.
“As I have said recently, this government has no Plan A, never
mind a Plan B and its whole manufacturing strategy is ‘shot to
pieces’. To this end, Unite is leading the battle amongst trade
unions for an alternative strategy and in a few weeks time, will be
launching our strategy for manufacturing called ’2020 Vision’ which
highlights what manufacturing needs to create a sustainable
future.
“There has to be a sustainable manufacturing sector capable of
competing across the globe and providing well paid long term
skilled jobs for workers across the UK. We need to stand up for
manufacturing, to defend jobs and our industries.”
The Steel Industry Managers Association is the Unite section
covering professional and managerial staff in the steel
industry.
ENDS
For further information contact Tony Burke on 07831 659939 or
Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420 8914 or
07980 224761.
Notes to editors:
In November Unite will unveil ‘2020 Vision - A Unite Strategy
for Manufacturing’ at its sector conference. Unite will propose the
ten pillars upon which manufacturing should be based:
- The defence of strategically important industries;
- Continued financial support through interventionist
policies;
- Targeted support for small and medium sized enterprises;
- Better use of government purchasing power to secure
manufacturing jobs in the UK;
- Maximising the opportunities that the low carbon revolution
offers;
- Delivering an education and skills framework which meets all
industry needs;
- Creating a university structure which builds on the science
base necessary to secure high skilled jobs;
- Creating the right investment environment for research and
development;
- Creating a level playing field to deliver security and fair
pricing for energy;
- And a framework of legislation which promotes transparency and
engagement for all stakeholders in the future of
manufacturing.
