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First Hoover, Now Bosch

First Hoover, now Bosch with another 200 jobs lost, and it is still only Wednesday.

God only knows how many more will shed jobs before this year is through but rumours are that over 80 major companies have already contacted the Assembly to say that they are in serious trouble.

Comments

Anonymous said…
but nothing is happening, the unions have no faith in the OWG,neither do the workers . and what about support for those looking to go into business to get a job - still no contracts to deliver the support that was due in April.
We have a castrated executive
November 19, 2008 10:15 pm
Draig said…
And who has any faith in the Unions? Do they represent agency staff in any of these places? In many places they don't bother, because agency workers are harder to unionise, and they can't be bothered to make the effort. They take employees dues to pay for fatcat union bosses, and when the factory is under threat, they usually just help to negotiate the closure.

They themselves are castrated by Thatcherite legislation that Labour has never fully repealed, yet they have never mounted a fundamental challenge to this.

Much like the the Labour Party they still finance, the unions are just out for themselves. They're a total waste of time.
November 20, 2008 12:05 am
Ian Titherington said…
The unions are not a waste of time but I admit as a union branch officer, are not perfect. However, I am not sure what anyone can currently do as the drop into this recession is extremely steep.

It's the uncertainty that scares me and with respect to all pundits including yourself Dylan, there are no answers to deal with the present. I only wish that there were, as I have just been phoning to see if one of my best mates has lost his job in Bosch.
November 20, 2008 1:04 am
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
November 20, 2008 7:01 am
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans said…
VM - there are indications that the OWG has just given up and are just accepting that massive job cuts are going to happen.

Draig - you may be right about the unions but I couldn't possibly comment!

Ian - I remain a half full pint person and cannot believe that we are unable to deal with this.

I still believe the best way to deal with any potential future closures is to have a dialogue with ALL major employers before the decision is made to close.

I have been making this point for the last two years (see article on Hoover below) but it is still isn't happening.

This may not save all jobs but at least it may enable some of the companies to reconsider their decision, especially if European funds could be used to support training and capital investment.

Indeed, I am working on such a proposition for Saturday's Western Mail article.

We have to try everything we can because if we do not, we might as well not have any devolution for Wales.
November 20, 2008 7:01 am
Anonymous said…
There does seem to be a degree of acceptance now that job cuts will keep happening until the downturn reaches its greatest depths - the question is, can the WAG do enough to stem the losses beyond what are absolutely necessary?
November 21, 2008 1:57 pm
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