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BY AMANDA CAMPBELL


As vultures circle the world-class GKN, Unite stands up to the ‘Gordon Gekkos’


On April 20, 1979, Concorde, the world’s first supersonic jet took off from the Filton airfield site near Bristol. It was painted white.


The iconic jet captured the nation’s hearts – but it was only the super-rich that could afford the record trans-Atlantic journey time. And so the supersonic masterpiece, co-created by the super-skilled workforce at Filton was to become the playground of the super-fat cats.


Back in the 1980s Concorde inspired many – including Dave Tiley, Unite deputy convenor at GKN Aerospace Filton. “Our school playing field was right next to the runway,” he recalls. “I remember sitting in double geography looking out the window and watching Concorde take off. I wanted to be a part of that.”


Dave, now 50, did in fact become a part of it – and for hundreds of local families, GKN Aerospace at Filton has become their work, their lives, their past and their present. Its future however is now in serious doubt.


Because in January successful, world class engineering firm GKN became the takeover target of the super-fat cats and the vulture capitalists. ‘Turnaround specialists’ Melrose is currently encircling the aerospace and automotive company which employs 6,000 people across 14 sites in England.


For Melrose the ‘pickings’ are substantial. Its own bid document details the figures for fees and expenses, and follows earlier revelations that their four top executives stand to make a reported £285m between them in ‘incentives’ – should they boost GKN’s share price following a successful takeover.


In a move echoing the ‘cowboy capitalist’ takeovers of the 1980s, the potential total amount to be pocketed by Melrose executives and their advisers could be upwards of £425m – or the equivalent of six Airbus A320 airliners whose wings GKN work on.


“The astronomical sums of money that could be pocketed by bankers, financiers and Melrose bosses from the ‘debt-fuelled’ takeover of GKN would have the Gordon Gekkos of the 1980s licking their lips,” commented Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner.


All this is a far cry from Filton. Unite convenor John Sweeney, 43, joined as an apprentice in 1990. He’s worked there as a highly skilled aircraft fitter and later as a tinsmith welder.


The potential takeover would affect 1,600 workers on the site – the majority in highly skilled, relatively well-paid jobs. These are jobs that are not available elsewhere locally – certainly not in these numbers. The region would not recover and these skills would be lost permanently. Skilled fitters earn about £28k a year – a relatively high wage for the area.


Massive impact House prices in Bristol are rocketing up with the average house costing at £261,900 and rental at £1,200 a month – so not working at Filton would have a massive impact.


Filton is central to the Sweeney family. John’s dad worked on Concorde; now he’s looking for a secure future for his children aged 10 and 12.


Of course John and Dave’s fears are shared by GKN’s employees everywhere. Mick Forbes from the automotive side is the Unite works convenor at the GKN Driveline plant in Birmingham, where, as Mick explains, they make “drive shafts, side shafts, pop shafts for the UK’s auto makers” – with the exception of Vauxhall and BMW Mini and a turnover of £180m a year.


It’s a successful business – so much so that in January boosted sales forecasts for GKN’s electric car parts also added to the case against a takeover.


Now 57, Mick started as an apprentice at 16 working as a machine operative and


17 uniteWORKS Spring 2018


later as a technology operative on the firm’s high value lines. And like John and Dave at Filton, Mick has three generations working at the site. A hostile takeover would seriously affect 850 workers like Mick at the site.


“I’m fearful,” Mick says. “It would be a massive loss to the local community and economy – and skilled jobs would be lost from the West Midlands – possibly forever.”


In January, Melrose attempted to sway shareholders with the promise of a “an exceptional dividend” through a £7bn bid – but Unite and others argued this would be funded by debt that workers ultimately would have to shoulder through cost-cutting, risking jobs.


GKN is a huge name in military aerospace – for example it provides parts for the F-35 fighter jet. So, Unite has argued that any takeover by an equity firm only interested in rewarding its shareholders at the expense of the company’s long-term health would threaten the UK’s national security. This is a key point.


Right from the start Unite has been determined to see the vultures off, urging the government to support these world- class workers, support UK manufacturing and block the takeover bid.


But the government’s lacklustre, approach has angered Unite reps. “We met business secretary Greg Clark,” reports John Sweeney. “He’s got the power to stop this takeover – but he was non-committal.”


Since that meeting and after weeks of pressure the government has at last agreed to an inquiry into Melrose’s predatory bid, with a business, energy and industrial strategy committee meeting convening on March 6 to hear evidence from Unite, GKN and Melrose.


Committee chair and Labour MP Rachel Reeves said the meeting will be “an opportunity to hear from Unite and for both GKN and Melrose to set out their


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