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Jobs being lost
Page 41
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Nothing makes a worker turn to a union quicker than a threat to their job, and a lot of jobs have been under threat in 2008.
In May, market analyst Plimsoll warned that one in seven hauliers could go out of business if current economic conditions continued.
This prediction came in the wake of the closure of Yorkshire haulier E Pawson & Son and Lanarkshire-based Ramage Distribution in April, with a total loss of 600 jobs.
As the year has progressed. it has become clear that economic conditions are also hitting hauliers customers, with knock-on effects for the haulage business.
Perhaps the most obvious sector affected by the downturn is housebuilding. but it has also become clear that even retailers are unhappy.
In September and October, more hauliers went under, including Scotflow. Another small haulier to cease trading was John Toulson (Teesdale), with 10 jobs lost.
Car delivery companies are the latest to hit the headlines, with Autologic announcing last month that it was going to cut its 500-strong workforce by 40%. The company hopes that most of these will he by voluntary redundancy, but the move adds to the overall economic pessimism. For some, a union will be a place of potential safety in a storm. •