7 Jan 2009
Scotland requires a new spirit of teamwork to help it through the economic storm, Jim Murphy today told the STUC General Council.
Speaking at the event for the first time in his new role, the Secretary of State said :
"Our country faces deep and significant challenges in the coming year and the UK Government is doing all it can to secure employment but 2009 cannot be "business as normal" for politicians, unions and employers.
"We require a different form of politics, co-operation and common effort as we face the unprecedented economic circumstances. We are in uncharted territory and it will take ingenuity and teamwork across the board to make sure we are in the best possible position to weather the downturn. The UK Government's immediate focus is on investing to secure the economy and acting to maintain jobs. We must have ambition, even in the face of uncertainty, and the Prime Minister's recent announcement on bringing forward £10 billion of spending on public works to create 100,000 jobs - of which Scotland will get its fair share - is a prime example of the way forward.
"Trade Unions have an important role to play in our common effort, in working with Government and employers. We can all pull together and support the newly unemployed get a chance to get back into work through re-training and re-skilling alongside a range of measures unveiled by the UK Government last month. The STUC also has a central place in the Economic Summit I convened last year, along with the UK Government, CBI and Scottish Government.
"I have repeatedly said I will work with anyone, regardless of politics, to do the best for Scotland in the coming months and years. That offer stands and I intend to take that approach into further action in 2009."
News Release: SS1462
Date: 7 Jan 2009