Workers Uniting Group - News Update: Rolls Royce, Guardian, Local Government Pay

Rolls Royce Investment Welcomed
Rolls-Royce’s announcement of investment in four new factories and two advanced research programmes in the UK has been welcomed by Unite.

The investment by Rolls-Royce and the government is expected to create or secure over 800 jobs in the high-value manufacturing programmes in Rolls-Royce’s aerospace and civil nuclear markets.

Rolls-Royce will invest over £300 million in four factories in the UK, with £45 million of support to be provided by the UK government.

Unite national officer for aerospace and committee Bernie Hamilton who is also chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding Engineering Unions (CSEU), said: “These announcements by Rolls Royce and the government are a ringing endorsement to the skills and abilities of the current and future UK aerospace workforce. This is a welcome investment for the UK manufacturing base including new sites for aerospace and civil nuclear which will secure and create jobs in communities badly hit by losses of employment in the UK manufacturing base and in other sectors of the UK economy."

Bernie said: "Unite and the CSEU stand ready to make these investments a success. We recognise the challenge of building world class manufacturing facilities but we will reach this goal and with it secure the future for Rolls-Royce workers for decades to come. Of course, we would have liked to have seen all the investments Rolls-Royce has announced today made in the UK, but the significant money announced today for UK projects is nonetheless an excellent indicator to all of its UK employees that this country is still at the heart of the company.”

Industrial action at Guardian Print Centre "on hold" for talks.
Industrial action at the Guardian Print Centre has been put on hold as negotiations continue.

Unite has refused to rule out the possibility of action. Steve Sibbald Unite National Officer for Newspapers said that since the threat of industial action was put to the publisher, it has been more willing to negotiate.

Steve said: "The ballot is suspended, but it could still go ahead next week pending further negotiations – it really depends how they go."

Local government pay
Unite, GMB and Unison, have formally agreed to consult members on an improved pay offer for 2009/2010, calling it the “best available through negotiation."

The results of the unions’ consultations will be available in early to mid September.

The unions are warning that, after years of below inflation pay awards, local government workers are angry about the way they have been treated. They will be gearing up for a campaign to protect national bargaining and fight for a higher pay award next year.