New industrial strategy vote

SKILLS: STUC conference backed a motion yesterday calling on Holyrood to implement a long-term industrial strategy to prevent unscrupulous employers winning contracts.

Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said the Scottish government’s A Manufacturing Future for Scotland was “ineffective and weak.” He warned that 120,000 jobs had been lost in manufacturing since 1999 and called on the Scottish government to take action.

Unions call for action against job losses

OIL INDUSTRY: STUC delegates voted yesterday in support of a call for an emergency summit with unions and the Scottish and Westminster governments to organise against the huge job losses in the oil industry.

Already 65,000 jobs have been lost — devastating local communities and families.

Carron Phoenix jobs at risk

JOB LOSSES: GMB Scotland called yesterday for urgent government intervention to save hundreds of under-threat manufacturing jobs at Carron Phoenix in Falkirk.

The 211 skilled jobs are at risk after Swiss owners announced yesterday they were moving production to Slovakia. GMB Scotland officer Gary Cook said that it was “a hammer blow to the economy and workers.”