SCOTLAND’S largest trade union has slammed the “disgraceful” actions of the UK Government after further job losses were announced in a key Scots industry.

Alexander Dennis (ADL), the UK’s largest bus and coach builder, is planning to axe a "staggering" 70 jobs in addition to the 200 job cuts previously announced.

As such the firm, which is based in Larbert in Falkirk, will be cutting over 30 percent of its 850 workers.

The trade union Unite, which represents the majority of the workforce, has severely criticised Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, for the lack of any response to a letter dated September 10.

Unite’s Scottish secretary, Pat Rafferty said inaction from Jack, and his boss Boris Johnson, had led to a “shocking state of affairs”.

READ MORE: Here's a way to both save jobs and provide better bus services

The September letter invited Jack, who represents Dumfries and Galloway at Westminster, to meet with workplace representatives to discuss the current situation facing ADL in Scotland and what levels of support could be provided for the low-emissions bus industry.

Rafferty said: “The lack of action by the UK Government is disgraceful.

“Unite wrote to Alister Jack the Secretary of State for Scotland on September 10 inviting him to discuss how together with Unite and the Scottish Government we could protect highly-skilled jobs in Falkirk.

“The reality is that 75 percent of Alexander Dennis’ orders come from outside Scotland with the vast majority of it being in the rest of the UK.

“Therefore, the lack of a response from Alister Jack to our overtures to support the workforce and the inaction by Boris Johnson in relation to the promised funding for 4000 low-emission buses through a £3 billion fund is a shocking state of affairs.”

Rafferty added: "The prospect of Alexander Dennis further cutting its workforce by 70 jobs in addition to the 200 announced a number of weeks ago is staggering.

“Unite has worked day in and day out to ensure the company honours the agreed consultation processes with the workforce.

“The sole objective for all should be to maximise the efforts to save jobs and to financially support workers through redundancy.”

Unite Scotland is demanding a number of strategic interventions from governments at UK and Scottish level to support the green manufacturing industry.

READ MORE: The timeline of major job losses across the UK since March

The first of these, as Rafferty alluded to, is that the UK Government immediately brings forward the promised funding for 4000 low-emission buses through a £3 billion fund.

They are also asking the Scottish Government to enact the Just Transition Committee’s recommendation to rapidly roll-out spending of the £500 million committed to prioritise buses.

Unite also want the establishment of a Scottish-wide bus scrappage scheme to replace older diesel buses with low emission and zero-emission buses, and the immediate procuring of a fleet of green buses for use at COP26 climate conference now planned for Glasgow next November.

Finally, the union is calling for the acceleration of orders to bus manufacturers and the supply chain through the new Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme, which will provide £9 million this year to help bus operators invest in ultra-low emission vehicles.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Senior figures from Alexander Dennis Ltd have spoken with the Scottish Secretary and Department for Transport minister responsible for buses recently about issues facing the company and industry more widely.

“The transport sector remains a critical part of the UK economy and we will continue to work closely with industry, including Alexander Dennis.

"Schemes such as the UK Government’s £5 billion funding package for buses and cycling, which includes support for the purchase of at least 4,000 zero-emission buses, are more important than ever as we make a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.”