Unite workplace representatives, workers and apprentices from GKN
will warn the West of England joint committee of the threat posed
to jobs and the region’s aerospace industry by a hostile takeover
bid of GKN by Melrose today (Friday 2 February). The committee,
which is a combine of the four unitary authorities, Bristol, Bath
and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset,
along with Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees and West of England mayor Tim
Bowles, is meeting today...Request free
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Unite workplace representatives, workers and apprentices from GKN
will warn the West of England joint committee of the threat posed
to jobs and the region’s aerospace industry by a hostile takeover
bid of GKN by Melrose today (Friday 2 February).
The committee, which is a combine of the four unitary authorities,
Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and
North Somerset, along with Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees and West of
England mayor , is meeting today
at Kingswood civic centre, High St, Kingswood, Bristol BS15
9TR.
Unite is scheduled to address the committee in the public session
between 13:00 and 14:00. The union is expected to warn
that Melrose’s debt fuelled bid is a return to 1980’s ‘cowboy
capitalism’ with jobs axed and sites sold off to fund short-term
returns for shareholders.
Seeking the support of the committee, Unite regional coordinating
officer for the south west Steve Preddy, is expected to
say: “GKN is a major engineering business and a world leader
in motor manufacturing, aerospace, and defence.
“The Filton site employs 1,600 people, with the highest skills sets
and engineering expertise producing high quality products for blue
chip companies like Airbus and Boeing.
“GKN’s Western Approach site employs hundreds more at one of the
world’s most advanced composite materials’ wing production
sites.
“The aerospace sector in the south west is the UK’s largest. Some
17,000 people are employed across numerous direct and supply chain
companies. Barely a town or constituency in the region is left
untouched by this profoundly important sector of our economy.
“GKN is a large investor and stakeholder in the national composite
centre here in our region, having invested £30 million into Airbus’
future wing development.
“It is critical that GKN remains in place as a supporter of all
these projects to help secure a strong local economy and future
employment in our world leading aerospace sector.
“The alternative is Melrose, which has stated openly that it will
look at jobs and sites as disposable assets to fund shareholder
dividend returns, removing growth opportunities for our region and
its aerospace cluster at a stroke.”
