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Press Release

Second dose of bad news renews Unite call for manufacturing policy

12 January 2012

The second bout of bad news in a week on manufacturing output has prompted a renewed call for 'a robust strategy' to help industry by Unite, the largest union in the country, today (Thursday, 12 January).

The UK Index of Production fell by 3.1 per cent in November last year, compared with November 2010, which is the largest fall since December 2009 and the ninth consecutive fall on the month a year ago. The figures show that manufacturing output fell by 0.2 per cent.

Unite Assistant General Secretary, Tony Burke said: 'These figures show the economy is still flatlining and the government has no strategy to boost manufacturing and create employment in the manufacturing sector, particularly for those thousands of unemployed workers who have lost their jobs in the public sector.'

'Ministers' strategy of job creation in manufacturing and the rebalancing of the economy is in tatters.'

'Our members employed in manufacturing, many of them highly skilled, are seeing the UK’s already dwindling manufacturing base looking weaker because of government inaction.'

'What we need is a robust response from the government, however its policy is one of inertia and waiting for something to turn up.'

Last week, the Markit Purchasing Managers Index survey, which asked manufacturers about their output and order books, showed a reading of 49.6 last month (December) - a tiny improvement on the 47.7 recorded in November, but still below the 50 mark which signals the sector is expanding.

At the time, Tony Burke said: 'It is a grim start to 2012 for manufacturing and our members who rely on a strong manufacturing performance for their jobs. We need an interventionist strategy to help manufacturing companies.'



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