ARVIN MERITOR REDUNDANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
TAKE TORFAEN MANUFACTURING JOBS DECLINE
TO OVER 40% SINCE CREATION OF THE ASSEMBLY
A media release on 5th March 2008 by William Graham AM
William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) responding the news of redundancies at the Arvin Meritor factory Cwmbran:
“It is always sad news when companies make workers redundant”.
“I hope that the Company can completely assure the remaining workforce that future of this factory is secure and that this announcement is solely related to a reduction in the supply of materials for the trailer axis business”.
“It is vital that we retain our manufacturing jobs in South Wales East. We rely upon manufacturing to create the wealth and attract further economic investment into our communities”.
“I am aware of the wide-ranging concerns of the increase in the number of service industry jobs, particularly in the public sector”.
“In 1999 (when the National Assembly was created) there were 11,508 manufacturing jobs in Torfaen, this has declined 6,898 – a loss of 4,610 manufacturing jobs. Since the creation of the Assembly we have lost 20,198 manufacturing jobs throughout South Wales East”.
“This is a worrying trend because not only has Torfaen experienced a loss of over 40% of its manufacturing jobs since 1999, it has also seen a decline in the overall share of the manufacturing jobs market during this period. In 1999 Torfaen had 18.5% of this jobs market; by 2006 (latest figure available) this had declined to 16.4%”.
William Graham JP, AM
CHIEF WHIP, PARTY CHAIRMAN AND EUROPEAN SPOKESMAN
Email – William.Graham@Wales.gov.uk