Midlands - Eroding the skill base
WORKERS, MAY 2008 ISSUE
Power company E.ON is to move nearly 200 skilled jobs from its headquarters in Coventry to Düsseldorf. In response, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Roger McKenzie said, "We are constantly told that the future for the UK is in high skilled, high value work in order that we can compete in a global market. It is particularly galling therefore when members of our highly skilled workforce find that their jobs are exported."
Coventry has seen a massive structural change in employment over the last few years with many engineering and manufacturing giants ceasing production or moving it abroad.
The job losses follow those at Peugeot, Jaguar, Massey Ferguson and Marconi and, said McKenzie, will cost the local economy up to £6.5 million in lost wages.
E.ON's announcement comes in the wake of news that the Learning and Skills Council will be wound down by 2010, itself placing many jobs under threat. The region is being strangled to death.