Preparing for the inevitable

A WORKFORCE whose commitment and skills are the envy of mills around the world is this week preparing for the worst on the back of Hawick Knitwear's shock announcement of yet more job cuts at its Liddesdale Road factory.

Thirty-two face the axe in the latest round of redundancies which, according to company bosses, will "safeguard the future of the business". Who are they trying to kid?

It's just that back in December the same mill bosses were confident trade would "pick up" at the turn of the year. Instead, the beleagured firm is shedding even more workers and trying to chip away at the terms and conditons of the remaining employees.

It's a desperately sad situation and one which has disturbing similarities to the demise of Pringle's Glebe Mill last summer. There's a chilling air of inevitability about the situation at Hawick Knitwear, just as there was at the Glebe for many years. So much so, that for many, it's now not a question of if, but when, the factory will eventually close.

THE council's much-trumpeted pledge over its commitment to support the region's economy has a somewhat hollow ring to it these days.

I use the adjective 'hollow' because the local authority, already under fire over what many perceive to be its lack of action in tackling the Borders' unemployment woes, this week delivered the bombshell news that care contracts have been awarded to two firms outside the area. Now, by anyone's standards, this decision beggars belief.

And social work director Andrew Lowe's less-than-convincing attempt to put a positive spin on the controversy has only served to fan the flames of anger among Borders care companies and their clients, many of whom are extremely upset at the situation.

"It was a fair procurement exercise," insisted Mr Lowe. I've no doubt it was, but the whole thing still stinks. And it's the stench of double standards which will continue to hang in the air for many months to come.

Welcome to my blog. Here I'll be discussing the issues that have come up in the week. They could be local, national or just the things that have irritated me. If you agree or disagree with anything on the blog just post a comment. The best of them may well be printed in the Hawick News