MSP Neil: Airport jobs crisis must be tackled now
Renfrewshire politican asks First Minister for urgent action
The 500 Glasgow Airport workers threatened with redundancy must not be treated as “collateral damage” in the fight against coronavirus, the First Minister has been told.
In a two- page letter outlining the scale of threat to the local economy, Neil Bibby MSP has demanded Nicola Sturgeon takes urgent action to avoid unemployment levels not seen in Renfrewshire since the 1980s.
The MSP for Wes t Scotland said targeted support for Glasgow Airport and the wider supply chain is desperately needed because of the downturn in business at the Paisley transport hub.
His letter comes after Swissport confirmed plans to axe 321 jobs at the airport, while Menzies Aviation is proposing a cut of 160 staff, car park operator NCP 20 jobs and fuel supplier North Air a further seven posts.
Criticising the First Minister for her apparent failure to meet with airport unions to discuss the developing crisis and respond to his concerns, Mr Bibby said: “Renfrewshire is faced with wave after wave of redundancies destroying people’s livelihoods in a time of crisis and doing irreparable harm to our local economy.
“Not only are hundreds of jobs directly at risk, so are hundreds more in supply chains and local businesses in the vicinity of Glasgow Airport and the wider Renfrewshire area.
“The crisis, both in public health and in the economy, is being driven by a global pandemic. Nobody appreciates that more than the baggage handlers or the airport workers whose livelihoods depend on international travel.
“They must not be treated as collateral damage in the fight against coronavirus.”
Mr Bibby sent his letter to the First Minister in the same week Rolls- Royce confirmed 370 people at its Inchinnan site will have left the business by the end of the month, with a total of 700 people set to lose their jobs.
The Aerospace Response Group set up by the Scottish Government to look at salvaging jobs in the industry is failing, Mr Bibby claims.
He is urging the government to work with trade unions and businesses instead to develop an economic intervention that focuses on retaining jobs and fair work practices across the sector.
“The economic fallout of the covid crisis in Renfrewshire will be grave,” he added.
“We now face the realistic prospect of unemployment at levels not seen since the 1980s and the catastrophic loss of industrial capacity.
“I will not criticise the Scottish Government if, having exhausted all options, you are unable to protect jobs in my region.
“However, I cannot accept inaction or an unwillingness to intervene to the extent necessary.
“Again, as a matter of urgency, I would ask you to review the Scottish Government’s response to the airport jobs crisis and work with trade unions and parliamentary colleagues to develop a coordinated approach.”
Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills Jamie Hepburn said the Scottish Government has provided business rates relief for aviation companies, airports and ground handling providers.
He said: “We recognise that the aerospace and aviation sectors have been severely impacted following a collapse in global demand for air travel due to the pandemic.
“To address the wider impacts of coronavirus on the aerospace sector, I have been chairing the Aerospace Response Group, bringing together leaders from across industry, government and trades unions with the aim of safeguarding jobs and preserving the aerospace manufacturing and research and development capability in Scotland.”
Workers must not be treated as collateral damage