Union welcomes Glaxo's Ulverston plant
Last updated at 16:23, Thursday, 22 March 2012
Unite, the UK’s largest union, has welcomed the news from pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline today that it will invest £500m at its various manufacturing sites across the UK, creating 1,000 new jobs.
- Related article: Prime Minister David Cameron visits Ulverston
- Related article: 100s of jobs on the way at £350m Ulverston site
The company has announced Ulverston, Cumbria as the chosen location for its first new manufacturing facility to be built in the UK in almost 40 years.
GSK has confirmed it will investment £100m at the company’s manufacturing sites in Montrose and Irvine in Scotland.
A further £80m will be invested at its sites in Ware, Hertfordshire and Barnard Castle in County Durham.
In total, it is anticipated this investment will create up to 1,000 new jobs over the lifetime of the projects.
However, the union is calling on the government to produce a strategic manufacturing strategy that supports the UK’s manufacturing.
Unite national officer, Linda McCulloch, said: “This is welcome news and a big thumbs up for the UK manufacturing, pharmaceutical and construction sectors.
“This investment is fantastic for the North West, where the new facility will be built. It will create much needed employment opportunities in the area and will safeguard hundreds of skilled jobs.
“However, the pharmaceutical industry has seen a lot of uncertainty with over 10,000 jobs lost in the past five years.
“This investment is testament to the skills of UK workers. These dedicated workers thoroughly deserve this investment and the long term security of employment this brings.
“But, more needs to be done. We need to invest in the UK’s manufacturing skills base for the future. Once again, we call on the government to invest in the UK’s manufacturing skills base with a long-term solution.”
First published at 15:09, Thursday, 22 March 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
This is great news for Ulverston and the surrounding area, and congratulations to all those involved in helping to create the deal, but they still have to get the necessary planning permissions and this might be difficult with influential pressure groups like KUS and other Luddites opposed to any new developments in the town.
Have your say
Best the Luddites keep away. Massive investment like this doesn't come easy, and shouldn't be opposed. Hopefully the planners will bend over backwards to help this projects, and some of the idiots from KUS keep well out of it. I think if any of these pressure groups start jumping up and down, they will rapidly see any support they had disappear overnight.
Well done Glaxo! Excellent news for the area!
Posted by eebyeck on 23 March 2012 at 07:15