The hard work of Britain’s car workers risks being put into
reverse, thanks to the government’s botched handling of Brexit and
government ministers’ assault on diesel, Unite the union warned
today (Monday 7 January). The warning from, Unite, the UK’s largest
union representing car workers, comes amid new figures from the
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing new car
registrations fell by nearly 7 per cent last year. Commenting
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The hard work of Britain’s car workers risks being put into
reverse, thanks to the government’s botched handling of Brexit and
government ministers’ assault on diesel, Unite the union warned
today (Monday 7 January).
The warning from, Unite, the UK’s largest union representing car
workers, comes amid new figures from the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing new car registrations fell
by nearly 7 per cent last year.
Commenting Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing
Steve Turner said: “The UK car industry is a global leader and
a source of highly skilled well paid jobs not only in major
manufacturers, but throughout the supply chain.
“All this is at risk of going into reverse, along with the hard
work of Britain’s car workers, thanks to the government’s botched
handling of Brexit and continued economic uncertainty.
“To make matters worse, the car industry has seen the demonisation
of diesel by government ministers, despite the UK making some of
the cleanest engines in the world.
“The result has not just seen diesel sales fall off a cliff edge,
but it has made it harder for emission targets to be met as people
switch or hold on to petrol cars, which emit more CO2 than diesel
vehicles.
“Instead of slashing grants to help people switch to electric and
alternatively powered cars, we need the government to spearhead a
strategy that ensures the UK car industry retains jobs, skills and
its global leading status as it transitions away from combustion
engines.
“Government ministers need to start supporting the car industry,
rather than hammering a jewel in the UK’s manufacturing crown.
“We also need an end to Brexit uncertainty and for tariff free
frictionless access to Europe to secure the future of the UK’s car
industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that rely on it.”
