Unite is calling for more government assistance to deal with the UK motor industry's employment issues.
The UK’s largest trade union, said that although 35,000 jobs have been lost in the UK’s automotive industry in the past 10 years the sector still employs 210,000 people in the design and manufacture of vehicles and components and contributes around £9bn added value to the economy annually.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite said that too many factories are closing, sometimes with companies turning their backs on the UK in search of cheaper labour elsewhere.
And its not just jobs that are suffering, British iconic car marques, Jaguar and Land Rover are currently being yo-yoed about after US firm Ford recently confirmed that it is in discussion with Indian car manufacturer, Tata Motors as a possible suitor.
Its almost ironic that Tata Motors has just launched the world's cheapest car. The so-called Nano will cost from £1,500.
Unite isn't without wit, however, as it has asked MPs to investigate the procurement record of their local authorities in buying UK built vehicles.
Its research reveals that 74% of vehicles procures and used by central and local government bodies are not produced in the UK.
Meanwhile, in other sector news, Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association has claimed that UK workers were “unemployable”.
Speaking at a Parliamentary inquiry into tourism, Bob Cotton suggested that UK workers lacked the motivation to turn up to work each day and were happy to stay on benefits.
He said that hiring Polish staff ahead of local workers was a “no-brainer” adding that people from central Europe were the best labour source in the industry for hundreds of years.
Gordon Bennett, what a scallywag.
