Unite urge local people to back campaign to 'Keep Rolls-Royce Pride on Merseyside'

23 November 2007

Unite, the UK’s largest union, will be calling on people across Merseyside to join their campaign to fight the closure of Rolls-Royce in Bootle.

Unite members at Rolls-Royce are fighting to save their jobs after the company announced plans to close its Bootle plant last month.

Workers from the site in Bootle will be visiting Liverpool town centre on Saturday 24th November to encourage the public to sign their petition.  The petition calls on the support from the local community, government and local MPs to sign up to the campaign to “Keep Rolls-Royce pride on Merseyside” and stop the Rolls-Royce's planned closure.

The plant employs 212 skilled workers who manufacture turbines for the oil and gas industries.

Unite Regional Officer, Debbie Brannan, said: “Too many highly skilled jobs have already been lost on Merseyside and we will not stand by and let Rolls-Royce jobs be driven out of this city without a fight.  We are asking the local people to support the workers at the threatened site in Bootle and the campaign to oppose the closure.

“These job losses have a devastating effect on families and the communities.  We have already gained huge support across Merseyside but its time the company and government listen to our concerns to protect the future of the workforce.”

Unite has launched a campaign “Keep Rolls-Royce Pride on Merseyside” and is calling on the people of Merseyside to back it. Unite will lobby the government and MPs at Westminster next month.

To sign the petition visit http://www.amicustheunion.org/pdf/A4%20Petition%20rolls%20royce.pdf