Labour must step up to help JLR supply chain jobs, says Unite

A union has said it believes the Labour Party needs to “step up” and help workers from supply-chain firms that have been affected by the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) shutdown following a cyber attack.

The car-maker’s production lines have been at a standstill for more than a fortnight, with concerns growing that some companies reliant on the brand’s business could go bust without support.

Jason Richards, Unite’s regional officer for the West Midlands, said thousands or tens of thousands of people could be laid off if there was no positive news from JLR, which has plants in Solihull and Merseyside.

Minister for Industry Chris McDonald said JLR was taking the lead on support for its own supply chain.

He said cyber experts continued to support JLR to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

“Yesterday I met West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to discuss the effect the shutdown at Jaguar Land Rover is having on the region, and we agreed to keep in close touch while the company works to get production up and running again,” he added.

About 30,000 people are employed directly by JLR, with a further 200,000 working in the firm’s supply chain.

Earlier this week, a group of MPs from the West Midlands and Merseyside wrote to the government, asking for financial help for supply-chain firms.

Mr Richards said he believed that there was “zero chance” of production starting next week, after suppliers were told production at JLR’s factories would not resume until 24 September.

JLR declined to comment on the union’s claim, and said it had been working around the clock to restart global applications.

“I don’t want to be pessimistic, and I don’t want to sensationalise this, but I really am concerned about the issue we find ourselves in,” said Mr Richards.

“Members within the automotive supply chain… some employers are laying off with pay, some employers are laying off on reduced pay, some employers are introducing interim banked hours agreements… but some are laying off without pay.

“They’ll get the statutory award of £39 a day for five days, and then after the five days they get zero and they’re being signposted to universal credit,” he told BBC Radio WM.

Mr Richards suggested that a furlough-type scheme could be introduced by the government, but added that he understood there was not a “magic money tree”.

“We’re having very little feedback from government – the Labour Party was farmed by the trade union movement… it’s time for the Labour Party to step up.”