Ritika Janiya
Scotland is facing a major crisis. Thousands of skilled employees may lose their jobs if the government does not support the country’s manufacturing industry. This has been said by Derek Thomson, the Scottish Regional Secretary at the union Unite. The Scottish Regional Secretary believes that even if these workers could be transferred to other countries, they might leave Scotland in search of better opportunities somewhere else, should the government not come to their aid, calling this a “skills exodus.”.
Scotland stands at a crossroads regarding its manufacturing industry at present. Most firms operating in Scotland are under threat and others are shutting their doors due in part to the Grangemouth oil refinery issue, which has been earmarked for closure, resulting in over 400 skilled employees losing their jobs. This will be a blow to the local community and to Scotland’s industrial future, immense.
The situation isn’t much brighter at two other vital fabrication yards in Methil and Arnish. Those are owned by Harland & Wolff, but that firm has entered administration for the second time in just five years. This could put more jobs in peril, and workers in Scotland are already in a state of limbo.
Government Assistance Required
Derek Thomson has a plan, but he needs government support. He is appealing to both the UK and Scottish governments to put money into strategic industries. Not, though, full nationalization, which would mean the government actually owns all these companies. Rather, he wants them to take transitional stakes. He wants them to put in enough money to keep these companies going through transitional phases to new technologies.
Thomson says this is the best way to save jobs while making the industry continue to grow. He also thinks that it’s a long-term investment that will support Scotland in becoming a greener economy. This kind of economy will produce more sustainable jobs, meaning jobs which could last for long periods without causing pollution to the environment.
The Skills Exodus
If the government fails to take action, Thomson warned that many skilled workers will leave Scotland, after which there is a possibility that they may go elsewhere in the UK or overseas. This would be a great loss for Scotland since it not only lost jobs but lost valuable skills that the country needs for its future.
Skilled workers are the mainstay of Scotland’s manufacturing industry. These are persons who have spent years sometimes three decades learning how to do their specialized jobs. It will not be easy to replace them and Scotland’s industrial sector really likely takes a hammering.
Grangemouth’s Future
Perhaps, the most significant part of Scotland’s industrial landscape is the Grangemouth oil refinery. Its closure would badly impact the local economy and the wider Scottish economy. But, Derek Thomson believes, provided it gets proper support, the refinery can stay open.
He remains of the opinion that there does exist a future for Grangemouth. He is believed to have told The Daily Record, “We are of the opinion that investment could extend the lifetime of the refinery.” Thomson is asking the government to invest in the refinery and is even suggesting that this notion of taking a “transitional stake” could be applicable elsewhere as well.
This would give businesses the time and resources they need to adapt to new challenges, like the shift towards greener energy. Ultimately, it is about making sure these businesses survive and flourish in a new economy better built around sustainability.
What’s at Stake?
If no action is taken, closure of the Grangemouth refinery and other ailing businesses might send shock waves around Scotland. This will see the job losses in one sector multiplied with job losses in other sectors. For example, when the refinery is closed, most local businesses that rely on the refinery might face problems, leading to more jobs lost.
Thomson is worried that when manufacturing in Scotland goes, it will be hard to regain it back. Skilled people who leave an industry find it really hard to return to that industry. It is for this reason that he is struggling so hard for government support.
A Greener Future?
One of the biggest reasons that Scotland’s manufacturing industry suffers from is due to the energy globally being used in greener forms. Most industries, especially those that happen to be in the form of oil refineries, cause most damage to the environment, and thus most governments are trying to pull back from these. The push for greener energy is necessary for Earth, but it does bring great challenges to those industries that have relied on things like oil and gas for their livelihood for decades.
On the other hand, Thomson is not averse to this sort of transition. In fact, he feels the country can take its rightful position in how to create a greener economy, but he believes all this can only happen if the government is ready to take money invested in the future. This can be done by supporting such businesses through that change while creating new jobs in greener industries while protecting the ones already existing.
