| Pledging to do his utmost to help those affected by the 650 redundancies, the former industrial chaplain said that while there were huge financial implications it was important to focus both on those made redundant and to try to safeguard the remaining 700-plus positions in research and development.
Mr Cramb, who will chair the team aimed at helping to minimise the effects of the bombshell announcement, today began the task of speaking with all the members of the team ahead of its first meeting on Thursday.
The Rev Erik Cramb spoke initially of his heartache at what had happened and said that he wanted to focus on the effects of the announcement on the workforce and their families.
“At the meeting with Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen yesterday it was decided to ask me to chair the task force because it was believed I would have the confidence of the workforce,” he said.
“I have accepted that and I’m just about to meet up with the various parties who were invited to make up the team.
“Obviously, I feel a great deal of heartache at what’s happened and it’s very important not to lose the focus of the effect on the families and the ‘end-of-the-world’ feelings they have at the moment.
“But we also have to think of the other 700-odd people who work in research and development and we have to try to do all we can to protect their jobs as well.
“Those are my two main considerations. But, at the moment, I am still unbriefed, so I can’t say too much about what we aim to do until I talk to everybody concerned.
“That’s what I’ll be doing today.”
The first meeting of the task force, made up of representatives from national government, SET and NCR management, trade unions and other agencies across the city, is due to take place on Thursday.
The Scottish Executive has pledged millions of pounds to help soften the blow for those affected by last week’s announcement, and calls have now been made for NCR to at least match any financial aid given by ministers.
Independent Labour councillor Ian Borthwick said today that the workforce — and the city — deserved a concentrated effort from a task force unencumbered by political “nonsense”.
Describing the meeting held with Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen at the plant yesterday as “very positive,” he said, “I think there was a firm commitment on the part of all those attending, including the minister and officials, that they would do everything possible to relieve the situation and take it forward.
“All political differences must be submerged. The city is facing a major crisis, and many affected families are facing an extremely difficult time.
“I have every confidence, but, whatever the outcome, it is absolutely essential our people can say they did everything possible to assist.
“The minister has made firm commitments and these promises need to be fulfilled.
“There is no reason to believe otherwise.
“What is also important is that things don’t get tangled up in political gestures. It is far too serious an issue for that sort of nonsense.”
During his visit to the company yesterday, Mr Stephen suggested that NCR could be asked to contribute to the millions of pounds required to cushion the blow of the 650 redundancies.
The company indicated that it would consider “all proposals” from the Rapid Reaction Team, subject to ongoing consultation with trade unions.
The exact sums required are expected to be known by the end of the month, with the next meeting of the task force which will administer them taking place on Thursday.
Councillor Borthwick said, “On the part of the Executive, there is obviously no open-ended commitment, although significant sums are available.
“NCR is a very profitable organisation, and they have shown a lot of commitment to the city since 1946.
“If NCR or any other firm is committed to Dundee, and recognise the value of the workforce within the city, it is very much in their interests to make the commitment.”
|
