ance of being
BUS MANUFACTURING Turn around on the buses
Three years ago the future outlook for Scotland’s last bus manufacturer, Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) of Falkirk, looked grim and 900 skilled workers found themselves voluntarily working a three day week to save their livelihoods.
At the same time ADL were primed and ready to deliver the next generation of environmentally and user-friendly vehicles with their ‘hybrid’ bus technology.
Thousands in the local community depended on ADL and losing the plant was not an option – so Unite members started a pro-active political fightback.
Bus operators in England and Wales had access to subsidies for hybrid-tech buses via a green bus fund. Surely Scotland’s bus operators should have the same opportunity?
The Scottish government initially re-buffed the workers’ lobby by attempting reforms via the bus service operators’ grant (BSOG). Local Unite rep Darren McWilliamsaid, “We simply lobbied harder. Eventually our proposals received widespread support from across the Scottish bus industry so it changed political hearts and minds.”
In June 2010, the Scottish government bowed to pressure and created an initial fund worth £4.4m, allowing the purchase of 48 low carbon vehicles. The scheme has now provided over £8m in subsidies for over 70 low-carbon buses in Scotland.
In 2011, it provided for nearly half of the UK bus market and has won multi-million pound contracts from across the world. Turnover has doubled and 2012 sales are up a further 20 per cent.
Darren reflects, “The seeds of change were planted by informed trade unionists who knew their industry inside and out – not by chief executives, not by captains of industry and not by politicians. Our campaign over-arched traditional party politics, we took politicians with us, but we couldn’t have achieved this change without the union’s political fund.”
17 uniteWORKS January/February 2013
REMPLOY SACKINGS Assembly help could be key
The hard fought campaign to save Remploy has taken a different turn in Wales, revealing a ‘tale of two cities’ when it comes to the Westminster government in London and the Welsh government in Cardiff.
While the Conservative coalition has rode roughshod over the livelihoods and futures of disabled workers by sacking them in their hundreds, Labour’s administration in Wales has responded to the campaigns of the trade union movement and offered on- going support – introducing a programme of assistance, to help displaced Remploy workers in Wales to find alternative, suitable employment, which has to date created just under 100 job opportunities.
The Welsh government has called on its Westminster counterparts to hand over responsibility for Remploy to give them a chance to secure its future. UK ministers have so far declined but the campaign continues…
Rob Curry, Unite Remploy rep at Neath said, “Remploy is not just a place of work but a reason for many to get up in the mornings. It’s important we fight for our future and to win for Remploy workers. It’s vital the campaign extends beyond the workplace to those who have the power to make a difference.
“The Remploy campaign in Wales has seen real results with the political and financial support from the government here. But the fight is far from over as we work with the Welsh government to save Remploy in Wales.”
PA Photos
Mark Thomas
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