Leader expresses concerns at SPP plans to outsource work

22nd July 2015

The Leader of The Highland Council has written to the SPP to express concerns at the announcement of their intention to outsource work to India with the loss of 11 jobs to the Highland area.

Cllr Davidson said: "This is a time when many in the public and private sector are trying to grow employment and the economy in the region and it is disappointing to see a respected organisation, with a close relationship to the public sector, reducing its local workforce and outsourcing employment elsewhere."

She added, " I quite understand the changing nature of the press industry and the need to meet budgets, however, outsourcing jobs can never be a good solution for the economy of the Highlands. I urge SPP to consider the concerns which are being widely raised and take another look at how they can reduce costs without impacting on local employment."

Scottish Provincial Press have stated they need to make the change to protect over 200 other jobs in their company.

Scottish Labour Councillors Deirdre Mackay and Sean Morton have teamed up to fight for local jobs at the Scottish Provisional Press (SPP).

The two councillors have launched an online petition calling for the SPP to reviews its decision to outsource pre- production from the region to Express KCS PVT Ltd in India with the result of local people across the region being made redundant. This decision sees the loss of 12 jobs in Wick, Golspie, Inverness and Elgin. Among others the SPP is responsible for the production of publications for Visit Scotland, the Ministry of Defencer, Highland Life as well as 16 newspapers in the North of Scotland.

Councillor Mackay, Area Leader for Caithness and Sutherland and Councillor Morton, who represents the Fochabers/Lhanbryde on Moray Council, launched the online petition in hope of getting the Scottish Provincial Press to review their outsourcing decision. The petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/scottish-provincial-press-keep-your-jobs-here-don-t-ship-them-to-india

Profits down
http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/13412653.Profits_down_at_Scottish_Provincial_Press/