Statement on TRW

As the Assembly Member for Neath, I had an opportunity yesterday (16.2.2011) to ask the Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM a question during the Plenary Session regarding TRW in Resolven.

Gwenda Thomas: "I am speaking in my capacity as the Assembly Member for Neath.
Ieuan, I would like to add my voice to the many who have paid tribute to the workforce, recent and past, of TRW. Despite the best efforts of the Welsh Assembly Government, recently and over a long period of time, the best efforts of the union and, most importantly, as you have said, the best efforts of the workforce of TRW, TRW has turned its back on Resolven, but not immediately. As Bethan said, a peaceful demonstration started at 7.30 a.m. this morning outside the factory. I understand that it arose as a result of the company’s inability to negotiate fair terms for the existing workforce to continue there for a month. I also understand, from talks with the union, that the company in Germany is not ready yet to take the transferred work from Resolven. The belief remains that there is no business plan or case for the closure of this factory and that this internal and political decision by the company to close TRW has been taken at the expense of the skilled and committed Welsh workers there. May I therefore refer to my most recent letter to you, dated 30 November, and ask you to confirm that the Welsh Assembly Government continues to offer maximum support to the employees in Resolven who have lost their jobs? Could you, perhaps, seek clarification regarding the situation that arose this morning?

The Deputy First Minister: "I will certainly seek clarification regarding the situation that arose this morning. I can also say publicly that I wrote to the vice-president of the European steering operations of TRW on 27 June last year, offering support in recognition of the difficulties that the company was facing. We offered a range of assistance for training and development, including both ProAct and Skills Growth Wales, and for environmental improvement activities and capital investment. That offer was made to the company. I also know that the local authority offered an immediate cut in business rates and, as I have indicated in an earlier reply, the workforce itself was prepared to take a substantial cut in wages. That was a very generous offer to the company and we are all disappointed that it has decided to walk away from the site. I will do what I can to get further information from it, but under these circumstances it was disappointing that the company turned down the offer made".

Since then I understand that the agency workers have been withdrawn.