UK manufacturing needs the euro warn unions

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 01 Oct 2002 15:39

The Government should be more positive about joining the euro if they want to revive British manufacturing, trade unions have warned.

Tony Gubbins of the Graphical, Paper, Media Union told the Labour conference in Blackpool that it was time the Government became “more positive on joining the euro to secure a more competitive and sustainable exchange rate.”

“We need to to turn strategy into reality and put manufacturing at the heart of the Government’s industrial policy,” he said.

He also emphasised that 3000 manufacturing jobs are lost every week: “Many multinational employers find it easier and cheaper during the global recession to cut jobs in the UK than in other parts of Europe.”

Fellow delegate Jimmy Elsby corroborated his comments. “The manufacturing recession is about real people losing real jobs with real companies closing real factories.

“Manufacturing matters and the manufacturing recession matters and that is not a soundbite but an economic reality. The future of the British economy depends on the future of British manufacturing.”

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