Concern over Job Losses at Scottish Electic

As Dundee Labour's City Development spokesperson, I have expressed my concern at job losses at Scottish Electric which is based in the West End ward.  I am seeking an update from the City Council about what they will do to help the workforce find alternative employment.

This is terrible news for the 99 people who have lost their jobs.  I will be seeking a briefing on what the council can do to help those who have lost their jobs.   It is bad news for the city when a company employing this number of people goes into liquidation.  I am clear though that as Labour's City Development spokesperson my priority is to help to create and protect jobs in Dundee.

It is also crucially important that we do all that we can to protect apprentices.  Those young people who have apprenticeships at Scottish Electric must be found an alternative.  It is so important that they get to finish their apprenticeship and are prepared for the world of work.

There is a lot of construction work going on in Dundee just now.  It is important that as much of that work as is possible goes to Dundee based firms so that the investment benefits the wider economy of the city.  Scottish Electric were working on the new railway station and we should be doing what we can to try and get the workers who have lost their jobs at Scottish Electric to continue to work on the railway station.

A Working Port - Pay Packets for workers in Dundee Sign of Success

I have been campaigning for a working port with Jenny Marra MSP

As Dundee Labour's City Development spokesperson today I welcomed the agreement between Forth Ports Limited and AF Offshore Decom UK on the signing of Heads of Agreement to establish a new joint venture AF Dundee.  Along with the Labour Party and the trade union movement, especially my trade union the GMB, I have campaigned for a working port in Dundee and in support of decommissioning jobs coming to Dundee.

Dundee needs a working port.  I am pleased to see progress on decommissioning.  This is something which I have campaigned on with Jenny Marra MSP, Labour colleagues and trade unions like the GMB over a number of years.  It is good to see progress being made.

The signing of the Heads of Agreement is good.  I look forward to this coming to fruition and delivering jobs here in Dundee.  I hope that this will result in a jobs boost for our city.  The test for success on this will be when the first Dundee workers receive a pay packet from this project.

I am determined to do all that I can to make Dundee a working port.  Along with the Labour Group on the City Council I will work with anyone to deliver that working port that our city needs.  I want to stop jobs sailing past our city and help to bring them to the city.  This is a good start and I hope that this project will be a success and bring good quality, sustainable jobs to Dundee.

Theft from Dundee City Council

I was very concerned to see reports of the theft of over £1 million from Dundee City Council and the conviction of a former member of staff.  Councillors and the people of Dundee need reassurance that this cannot happen again.  I agree with my colleague Bailie Kevin Keenan about what is needed to move forward on this, his statement is below.

Commenting after the sentencing of Mark Conway for stealing from Dundee City Council, Labour Group Leader Bailie Kevin Keenan said, ‘The main culprit here is Mark Conway and it is right that the full force of the law has been brought to bear against him.’

‘I am looking for Dundee City Council’s Auditors to produce a report on how this could have happened.  I also want to see evidence that loopholes have been tightened and that as far as is possible senior officers of the council are convinced that this cannot happen again.’

‘The people of Dundee and councillors need openness and honesty about how this was allowed to happen and the reassurance that it is not possible again.  I also want to know what impact cuts have had in this.  Over the last few years the number of staff of the council has been cut and this has led to people taking on more and more responsibility.  Did this mean that there were fewer checks and balances in place to prevent this type of theft and fraud?  I also want to know that Dundee City Council will be doing all in its power to recover this much-needed public money.’