Defence Of Scottish Jobs
As Holyrood Independence Debate Rages, GMB Scotland Is A Lone Voice Speaking Up For The Defence Of Scottish Jobs
As a two day debate in the Scottish Parliament got underway this afternoon (Tuesday 21 March) to seek permission for a second independence referendum, GMB Scotland is a lone voice speaking up for the defence of jobs and job creation.
GMB Scotland is calling on Scotland's political elite to step out of its bubble and get working on a meaningful plan for the defence of jobs and job creation to tackle the continued decline of decent work in the public and private sectors.
Amid Brexit uncertainty and forecasts that up to 80,000 jobs in Scotland could be impacted by the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU), GMB Scotland has also warned the Scottish government that the last thing Scottish workers need are superficial promises offering 'jam tomorrow' on jobs and opportunities.
GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said: “It seems Scotland’s political elite are more than happy to have a two day debate on another referendum but won’t spend ten minutes of their time on finding answers to our country’s growing jobs crisis.
It’s an inconvenient truth that Scotland has lost over 40,000 council jobs since 2010 and nearly 40,000 manufacturing jobs since 2007, yet a core argument for a Scottish Parliament was to ensure the decimation of employment under Thatcher wouldn’t be repeated.
On that count, our politicians are failing because the Scottish government has no plans whatsoever for the defence of jobs or the progress of job creation and this modern industrial decline, fuelled by austerity, has been left unchallenged under the watch of the Scottish Parliament.
The majority of people just want some stability in their working lives and are rightly concerned that against the backdrop of Brexit uncertainty, the Scottish government are rushing head first into another independence referendum without any clarity on what this means for their jobs and industries.
Just as the UK government is consumed by Brexit the Scottish government is focused solely on independence, yet neither are prioritising the defence of people’s livelihoods. This is what political failure looks like.”
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Contact: Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.
