Unite criticise the Scottish government for failing to support jobs
Unite, Scotland’s largest trade union, has today condemned the Scottish Government’s decision to scrap the £120m Glasgow Airport Rail Link amid growing criticism.
Finance Secretary, John Swinney, told the Scottish Parliament the rail link had to be scrapped in this year’s Scottish Budget. The Glasgow Airport Rail Link, which was due to open in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and was originally proposed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport which won the backing from MSPs for the plan in 2006.
It has been estimated that up to £182m had been earmarked for improving the line between Glasgow and Paisley with £47m already spent on station improvements to Glasgow Central and new track and signalling. Scottish ministers estimated that the project would have generated 1,300 jobs in total.
John Quigley, Unite’s Scottish Secretary, said:
“The Glasgow Airport Rail Link is a vital piece of the infrastructure needed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games but it is also essential for the wider west of Scotland economy. It is estimated that the project would have created 1,300 jobs and safeguarded jobs dependent on Glasgow Airport by improving connectivity and transport integration.
“Infrastructural projects do create jobs unlike the spurious claims by the Scottish Government that business rate taxation cuts have positive effects on employment levels. The Scottish Government should be focusing on supporting and creating jobs but these latest actions call that seriously into question.”
For further information please contact Andrew Brady on 0141 404 1881 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224761.
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