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Solidarity MSP Calls for Action on Jobs |
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Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne MSP has called on the executive to intervene over the recent job losses in her constituency of South Scotland. Simclar, Formerly Fullarton Fabrications, in Byrne’s home town of Irvine have axed 450 jobs with no notice or consultation. The Solidarity MSP has been meeting with workers from the factory as well as workers in communities across the region who have suffered recent redundancies. Rosemary said:
“The Executive must intervene to support and protect jobs in Scotland. The whims of global capitalism means misery for thousands of families. It is time that we invested money in future jobs run on a not-for-profit basis instead of emergency cash for retraining after it is already too late.
“At Original Shoe in Cumnock, Young’s in Annan and now Simclar, workers have been treated disgracefully. These are hard working, skilled people who can produce quality products, getting priced out of the business.”
Last week, Rosemary hosted a group of workers from Annan at the parliament who have lost their jobs to a plant in Thailand. Their employers, Young’s, have worked out that it is cheaper to take langoustines from the Solway to Thailand to be peeled and then back to Annan. To take advantage of this saving the bosses have paid off 120 staff at their Annan plant. Rosemary Byrne called for action on this issue:
“The Young’s situation highlights perfectly the madness of global capital. At a time when we are supposed to be addressing our carbon footprint it should be easy for government to intervene on an issue like this. The Executive are talking about a £2m task force in Dundee following the loss of jobs at NCR, I would think the South of Scotland should see that matched as we have lost as many in recent weeks. Use the money to let the workers buy out the bosses, give the workers owned companies government orders, give a tax break to companies who keep things local rather than ship prawns to Thailand and back. Let’s see real action otherwise we will be back here saying the same things time and time again.”
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