Cameron launches attack on Labour over Nissan job losses
Jan 10 2009 by Alastair Gilmour, The Journal
It’s sombre but not desolate
CITY leaders have met to consider what help they can offer Nissan workers coming to terms with the jobs announcement.
Sunderland Council leader Paul Watson met Wearside MPs yesterday to discuss ways of helping staff.
The Labour councillor said everyone involved with the response group was convinced that Nissan and Sunderland would eventually recover from the jobs blow.
Mr Watson said: "It’s sombre but not desolate. Most people here are pragmatic about the situation.
"They understand the world crisis that has caused this and understand Nissan is another symptom of that.
"Nissan at the moment is of fundamental importance to the city .
"We have been part of the response group that have met with the RDA and obviously there is a jobs advice centre that we will help with wherever we can.
"We have just went through the Northern Rock situation and we have seen other job losses in the city but we still have growing employment. Even in the last few weeks there have been jobs gains here.
"We emphasise with staff, we guarantee we will do everything we can to help not just Nissan but other industries, but there are vacancies and there is still some hope.
"We want to assure individuals we are doing all we can to bring jobs to the region."
