MP calls on Rolls-Royce to put brakes on job cuts
Fears for East Kilbride workforce in firm’ s redundancy plans
An East Kilbride politician has hit out at Rolls-Royce after the aerospace giant announced 9000 job cuts – three years after transferring 600 workers out of the town.
Many of the 1300-strong workforce at Inchinnan – Rolls-Royce’s second largest UK base – are constituents of Lisa Cameron MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow.
Trade unions fear Rolls-Royce’s historic maintenance, repair and overhaul business, which was once East Kilbride’s biggest employer, will be hardest hit by job losses, with workers across South Lanarkshire and the wider supply chain likely to be affected.
In a letter to Rolls-Royce’s chief executive Warren East, Dr Cameron has called on the company to end the uncertainty, not to proceed with redundancies and to work constructively with trade unions to find a way through the difficulties caused by the coronavirus crisis.
She said: “While I recognise the serious impact that COVID-19 is having on the aviation industry, I believe Inchinnan, with its world leading skills, has a key role to play for Rolls-Royce’s future.
“Taxpayers have channelled millions of pounds into the company to support high value, highly skilled jobs during this crisis. Yet it seems Rolls-Royce may not be using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to the full.
“Everything must be done to support one of our largest local sources of employment. I have been contacted by a significant number of constructs who fear for their future.”
Bulldozers demolished the historic East Kilbride plant in 2016 and transferred the last remaining staff to Inchinnan by the end of 2017.
The firm was accused of turning its back on the town and the generations of families who worked for them when they closed in 2015, transferring 600 jobs.
The Nerston-based factory had been synonymous with East Kilbride for decades and a catalyst in the development of the new town.
Dr Cameron added: “To keep the workforce in limbo raises questions about the governance of the company.
“Employees are increasingly wondering if the crisis is being manipulated to alter workplace agreements on pay and terms and conditions. The whole local community deserves better. I am calling on Rolls-Royce to maintain its commitment to the Scottish workforce.
“Almost everyone from East Kilbride, including my family has worked at Rolls Royce or knows someone based there.”
Dr Cameron has also written to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport.
She added: “It is crucial that redundancies are not progressed at Rolls-Royce Inchinnan. These jobs are vital for not only my constituents but also constituents across Scotland.”
South Lanarkshire Labour are also calling on Scottish and UK Governments to stand behind the workforce at Rolls Royce.
Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of South Lanarkshire Labour, said: “I speak on behalf of every Labour councillor in South Lanarkshire when I say that we want the best possible outcome for the workers at Rolls-Royce and the West of Scotland economy.
“That means retaining jobs and looking seriously at how government at all levels can support the workforce through the challenging months ahead. Many of us are receiving messages from Rolls-Royce workers concerned about their future and I want them all to know that Labour in South Lanarkshire stands with them and we are working on their behalf.
“Our statement makes clear that there must be meaningful engagement with the workforce and government intervention to save jobs and support the aerospace industry.”
The South Lanarkshire Labour statement reads: “South Lanarkshire Labour are deeply concerned about the job losses announced by Rolls-Royce and the impact this could have on their Inchinnan maintenance, repair and overhaul facility.
“Although it has been several years since Rolls -Royce withdrew from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire is still home to many Rolls-Royce workers.
“They are part of our community and have been for decades. South Lanarkshire Labour stands with them at this deeply worrying time.”
A Rolls-Royce spokesperson said: “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the whole aviation industry is unprecedented. We have taken swift action to increase our cash reserves and dramatically reduce our spending in 2020 to strengthen our resilience in these exceptionally challenging times.
“We now have to take further steps to secure the long-term future of Rolls-Royce and ensure we can continue to innovate for years to come.
“Regrettably, this includes reducing the size of our workforce to meet the reduced customer demand, as it is now clear that activity in the commercial aerospace market will take several years to return to previous levels.
“We have taken the difficult decision to reduce our global headcount by at least 9000 employees.
“As we are working through the details of this with our employee and trade union representatives in the UK and RRD, and our regional leads in other locations, we are not able to provide further information at this stage. We have come through troubled times before to achieve incredible things and we will do so again.”