Unite, the UK’s leading union, which represents thousands of members in the UK’s chemical industry, has cautiously welcomed the government’s announcement that it will provide £350 million of support to the industry.

While the support for the sector is to be welcomed, Unite is keen to see the detail of how it will be implemented and to ensure that it is used to preserve jobs especially in areas where there are large number of chemical workers, such as the North East.

However, the union is disappointed that the government has failed to take the opportunity to reform the packaging Extended Produced Responsibility (pEPR), which is having a dramatically negative impact on the glass industry.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government investment is something that Unite has been lobbying for and it is good news for chemical workers. Our chemicals industry provides thousands of well-paid skilled jobs and it must be properly supported.

“It is now essential that this financial support is not just promised but delivered quickly and companies receiving government money must commit to binding jobs.

"The government must also take urgent action to reform the packaging regulations which is in danger of causing needless damage to the UK glass industry, threatening large numbers of jobs.”

ENDS 

Notes to editors For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.

Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org