More trouble ahead

Troubling news in the Sunday Times this morning, where car unions estimate that up to 25% of jobs in the UK industry will be lost in the downturn.

Given that there are around 25,000 employed in the automotive sector in Wales, that could mean around 6,000 jobs lost in that sector alone over the next 12 months.

Also, it is worth noting that the First Minister, just over a year ago, was suggesting that Tata - the owners of Ford and Jaguar - would soon be moving their engineering plants to Wales. With Tata now wholly dependent on a bailout from the UK Government to save both these companies, that is now unlikely to happen (even if it were ever the case).

Update: More worryingly is the exclusive news in the Indy on Sunday that Tata - which also owns Corus - may quit the UK unless regulations on carbon emissions are changed. With thousands of workers employed at Llanwern, Port Talbot and Shotton, this news could not come at a worse time. Hopefully, this is just posturing by the company for support with carbon-reducing technologies but it should not be taken lightly at all.

Comments

Anonymous said…

and what does Rhodri Morgan do in the time of crisis - says that unemployment was higher under the Tories when he became an MP in 1987. Pathetic

December 14, 2008 9:54 pm

Anonymous said…

and why is the WAG "investing" £50m from its budget this year on arrangements for the "flu pandemic"?

Do they know something we don't know?

Mr Logicmanblue

December 15, 2008 11:34 pm

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