FIFE MSP’s FEARS OF MASS REDUNDANCIES GROW AS TORY CUTS START TO HIT HOME

Published date : 29 Sep 2020

INDEPENDENCE THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT SCOTLAND’S ECONOMY

Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth, has said the Tory government must perform an urgent U-turn over its reckless decision to withdraw support for jobs – after more companies voiced fears of redundancies after the furlough scheme ends next month.

Bakery chain Greggs, which has 25,000 workers across Scotland and the UK and four stores in Ms Gilruth’s constituency, is the latest company to indicate it may have to cut staff hours or jobs when the scheme ends warning “with the Job Retention Scheme planned to end in October we are taking steps to ensure that our employment costs reflect the estimated level of demand from November onwards.”

It comes as a new survey from Censuswide and Virgin Money revealed four in ten (42%) small and medium businesses think they will have a smaller workforce in December than they did in September, and a quarter think they might go out of business next year amid a second wave of covid-19.

Commenting, Jenny Gilruth MSP said:

“The devastating impact of the Tory decision to withdraw support for jobs in the middle of a pandemic is starting to hit home – with growing fears of mass redundancies.

“I am being contacted by many employers across my constituency whose businesses continue to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak and resulting lockdown measures. They want to protect the wellbeing of their customers and staff, but they need financial support to safeguard jobs as we continue to face up to the challenges posed by the virus.

“Boris Johnson was repeatedly warned that thousands of people could lose their jobs unnecessarily as a result of Tory cuts – and those warnings are now starting to become reality. Just this month RS McColl’s have announced they are closing two stores in Glenrothes.

“The shortcomings in the Tory government’s support for businesses have been plain to see locally throughout the epidemic. When CoorsTek announced plans to close its Glenrothes factory due to their key markets being impacted, the Tory government were nowhere to be seen and no offer of help was forthcoming.

“The Tory government must perform an urgent U-turn, reinstate a full job protection scheme, and devolve financial powers to the Scottish Parliament so we can protect Scotland’s economy.

“Scotland shouldn’t have to wait for Westminster to act while people’s livelihoods are on the line. If the Tories won’t act now to save thousands of Scottish jobs they will demonstrate beyond doubt that the only way to protect Scotland’s interests is to become an independent country.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Greggs hints at job cuts as furlough scheme ends – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54336746. Greggs locations in Mid Fife and Glenrothes include a store on Leven High Street and the Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes.

In July, CoorsTek announced plans to close their Glenrothes site after 40 years in the town citing a global softening in key markets due to Covid-19: https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/business/coorstek-announce-glenrothes-closure-2907275

‘Four in 10 companies fear job losses by December, survey shows’ – https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/business/four-in-10-companies-fear-job-losses-by-december-survey-shows/

‘SNP claim UK government made ‘deliberate choice’ to increase unemployment’ – https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/snp-claim-uk-government-made-22749084

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