Britain’s largest union, Unite warned that a ‘cliff edge’ Brexit
was becoming a ‘cold hard reality’ that was getting closer by the
day as it urged the government to end Brexit uncertainty after the
publication of Airbus’ latest risk assessment on the UK’s
withdrawal from the European Union. Warning that Theresa May
was putting party interests ahead of the interests of manufacturing
communities with her Brexit red lines, Unite urged the government
to take Airbus’...Request free trial
Britain’s largest union, Unite warned that a ‘cliff edge’ Brexit
was becoming a ‘cold hard reality’ that was getting closer by the
day as it urged the government to end Brexit uncertainty after the
publication of Airbus’ latest risk assessment on the UK’s
withdrawal from the European Union.
Warning that was putting party interests ahead
of the interests of manufacturing communities with her Brexit red
lines, Unite urged the government to take Airbus’ warnings on jobs
and an investment strike amid Brexit uncertainty, seriously.
Unite which is the UK’s main union representing aerospace workers
is calling on UK government ministers to safeguard investment and
hundreds of thousands of aerospace manufacturing jobs by securing
frictionless trade and regulatory framework agreements covering the
manufacture and design of aircraft, aerospace components and
engines.
Frictionless trade is vital to Airbus and the UK wider
manufacturing sector with components crossing borders multiple
times on a daily basis. Regulatory agreements between the European
Aviation Safety Agency and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority and
other regulatory bodies are also needed to ensure that planes
manufactured with UK made content can be licensed for
use.
Commenting Unite assistant general secretary with responsibility
for aerospace Steve Turner said: “The realities of a ‘cliff
edge’ Brexit and its impact on jobs in manufacturing communities
across the four nations of the UK are becoming closer by
day.
“Airbus supports 110,000 jobs in the UK. Its stark warnings of the
uncertainty facing the aerospace industry cannot be dismissed by
ministers and ‘hard Brexiteers’. It would be a betrayal of Airbus
workers, their families and the tens of thousands workers in the
wider supply chain if the government failed to secure frictionless
trade and access to the customs union and single market.
“ and her government need to
provide Brexit certainty if the UK is to remain at the cutting edge
of innovation and a world leader in aerospace.
“People voted to leave the European Union, but didn’t back leave to
lose their jobs and see their livelihoods smashed on the cliff face
of a ‘hard Brexit’.
“ needs to ask herself whether she
is willing to lay waste to vibrant manufacturing communities on the
altar of Conservative party interests and Tory infighting.
“If the answer is no, then the government needs to provide
certainty over the UK’s relationship with the European Union to
unlock investment by securing frictionless trade and a regulatory
framework agreement for the aerospace industry as a matter of
urgency.
“Workers will be increasingly worried about their jobs and their
futures. Unite will continue to defend their interests and their
livelihoods. We will be in close dialogue with Airbus and continue
to put pressure on the government to secure jobs and the future of
the UK aerospace industry.”
