Dai Havard

‘Hoover’ Merthyr Tydfil Quote:

“We know Hoover is in a very competitive business that is made more difficult by the current economic circumstance but Hoover is an iconic employer in Merthyr. Whilst it looks like its manufacturing at Pentrebach may reduce or end I hope the company and the trade unions can find a way for Hoover to continue to be a good corporate citizen in Merthyr, even if that is in a reduced form. I will support the trade union and the company in any practical way I can in promoting investment in the Pentrebach site to develop it for the future. I know that the DWP will do their best to assist all those disturbed by any changes and I will ensure that happens as soon as the needs of the workforce become clear. They can not however act alone. The scale of response demanded from the Assembly to respond to any changes will need to be substantial. Support must be provided to help refocus the factory site for the future as well as help the individuals affected. Hoover came to Merthyr as part of a re-generation of our local economy 60 years ago and our valleys can ill afford to loose good manufacturing jobs. The potential loss of such jobs underlines the need for a strategic development of road, rail and other infrastructure developments to do that re-generation job again to expand our economic capacity. The Assembly’s Heads of the Valleys Initiative will now be tested and must quickly become part of an action plan that will need to expand its vision of what we require in our local labour markets and the infrastructure and training to support it.”