United_Digital1_8:Activist issue 7 12/06/2009 13:23 Page 9
united digital march for jobs
9
A vocal 7,000 Unite members and their families took to the streets supporting
Unite’s call for jobs and action
With unemployment across the UK topping Simpson addressed the packed Centenary unemployment – the government has got to
2.2 million, over 7,000 Unite members from Square. He said, “Some government action has do more to help us.
across the UK and Northern Ireland marched been taken to stimulate demand in the
through Birmingham, on May 16, to protest economy and to protect working people from TUC general secretary Brendan Barber sent
about the thousands of jobs lost and to call on the ravages of the recession but it’s all been greetings and support from the whole British
the government to protect those jobs at risk. too timid. trade union movement. Labour MPs, Unite
members Jim Sheridan and Richard Burden
Unite’s march for jobs followed another week “Billions have been spent to save the banks, – two of 96 MPs who signed a motion
which saw thousands lose jobs, with BT and but those same banks are still throwing people supporting the march – both spoke.
Legal & General announcing cuts and official out of their houses when they can’t meet their
figures showing a 244,000 increase in mortgage payments because of a recession Jim said, “We need to make sure the banks
unemployment. those very banks caused. help these companies invest in the
infrastructure to ensure jobs and skills are
The Unite organised national event, also “These banks, the banks our members own, still here.”
supported by other major unions, saw workers won’t lend to manufacturing companies. They
from every sector of the economy stand even sack our members working for the Unite assistant general secretary Gail
together, sending a crystal clear message to banks. The bosses think that's the answer to Cartmail urged the government to build
the government that protecting jobs during the problems they caused. Britain out of recession. “Let's build more
the recession must be the number one affordable housing, including council housing
priority. “They've taken food from the mouths of our and provide much needed homes and
families, threatened our jobs and homes. Are construction sector jobs.”
Birmingham was the destination as it is the we are supposed to accept this? The answer is
centre of the West Midlands – where a simple one, the answer is no,” he concluded. Speaking for Corus members local union
manufacturing, especially automotive leader Geoff Waterfield said, "Hundreds
manufacturing, is the region’s main industry. Workers not bankers of Teesside workers and their families are
Recent statistics show unemployment has His pleas were echoed by Unite joint general here fighting for their future, making it loud
risen faster in the West Midlands than any secretary Tony Woodley who said the and clear they want the government to do
other region. government seemed more concerned about everything possible to protect jobs during
the fate of banking industry spivs over our the recession.”
Manufacturing has been one of the worst hard working members. It had got its priorities
affected sectors, with redundancies more than wrong – its concern should be workers, not John Fetherston, Unite’s Vauxhall's
doubling in the first three months of 2009 to bankers. Ellesmere Port convenor told the rally, “We
67,000, up from 29,000 in January-March 2008. are very concerned – we are now only
He said, “Our mission is to get ministers to working four days a week. Our colleagues
Workers from stricken companies including wake up and act to halt the jobs crisis. Our in Germany on short-time working are
Corus, Jaguar, Vauxhall, United Biscuits, LDV message is clear – workers are not going to having their wages topped up. We want
and Visteon, from the public and private sector, pay the price for the crisis created by bankers. short-term working subsidies. We've got to
massed together demanding urgent steps from make this government listen. They’re just
the government to keep people in work. “There are now more than two million people ignoring us.”
unemployed, with 250,000 joining the dole
Former Confederation of British industry queue in the last couple of months alone, Bren Riley, an unemployed tyre factory
(CBI) boss and ex-trade minister Lord many of them young people, but we cannot worker from Birmingham, Alabama, USA,
Digby Jones was among the crowd – risk seeing another forgotten generation who brought support from the United Steel
apparently his first experience of directly cannot find work and have their lives ruined as Workers.
taking part in a demonstration. a result. We must not replay the nightmare
1980s where there was misery for millions of
Lord Jones said saving the country's our people and with whole communities Call for action
manufacturing industry should be the wrecked. Unite is pressing for the government to
government's “number one priority”, and • implement a short-time working subsidy
added, “If we do not make a stand now then “We are serving notice on all politicians – to keep people in work and off dole
the jobs will go for ever. securing jobs is now our priority. And we are • more sizeable and speedy action to
not going to take 'no' for an answer.” support UK manufacturing
“People, real people, are saying, ‘stop talking • more help for business from the state-
about your moats and flatscreen TVs and deal Unite cares aided banks
with the real issue.’” Local regional secretary Gerard Coyne • greater protection for UK workers from
welcomed the marchers to Birmingham, “the redundancy
Just say no eye of the current economic storm.” He said,
Following funky bhangra beat band, Dhol, “By turning out today you have shown that To find out more visit
Unite joint general secretary, Derek you care about the communities decimated by http://action.unitetheunion.com
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