Yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism Fergus Ewing made a speech to the Scottish Parliament on the implications of the administration of Greensill Capital UK for businesses in Scotland. The full statement can be found here.
Ross Clark, Community Union President and Convenor at Dalzell, gave us an update:
“Of course there are concerns but at Liberty Steel Dalzell we’re just getting on with the job, continuing to make the best steel plate money can buy. We’ve got a solid order book, material to roll and a hugely committed workforce that has worked right through the pandemic.
There’s no doubt Dalzell should have a bright future as a vital part of the supply chain for renewable energy and construction. The Scottish Government must back us by ensuring that tax-payer funded infrastructure projects support jobs at Dalzell and elsewhere in the supply chain.”
Roz Foyer, General Secretary of the STUC, said:
“We welcome Fergus Ewing’s early engagement with trades unions Community, GMB and Unite on this key issue and his commitment to do so going forward. The Minister said ‘he will leave no stone unturned’ to protect and create jobs and this too is welcome. These sites are an essential part of Scotland’s future industrial strategy and, post-Brexit, they offer an opportunity to grow Scotland’s steel and aluminium production and with it good jobs in areas of Scotland where the need is great.
Again, this situation shows the fragility of our industries as big businesses with opaque financial models operate across the globe. This is further evidence of the need for a sustainable green industrial strategy and a plan for jobs. This will require political commitment and significant levels of public sector investment.”
If you are a member of Community and need help or advice, please contact us at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.
© Community Trade Union 2024