Diane slams Olympic bosses over failure to employ local workers
Diane has slammed the Olympic Delivery Authority for failing to make the most of job opportunities for local people ahead of the 2012 Olympics.
Figures released by the ODA yesterday revealed that out of 6,423 workers on the Olympic Park, just 130 hail from Hackney, the lowest of all five host boroughs.
Diane, who held a debate in Westminster Hall back in March over the lack of local employment, believes Olympic bosses have failed to make the most of the opportunities available to them, especially in an area of high unemployment like Hackney.
Diane said:
“I am truly shocked that after eight months, we’ve seen just 5 more workers from Hackney employed on the Olympic Park.
This is a complete travesty. In March, I led a debate in the House of Commons on the very issue, where I was assured that the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) job brokerage service was giving “greatest priority to unemployed people living locally”.
In June, figures showed Hackney to be the worst place to find a job in Britain, with 24 jobseekers for every one job. Hackney’s unemployment rate is above the national and London average. And yet, the Olympic Park is being built on our doorstep.
Opportunities have clearly been missed by the ODA which has failed to take advantage of a local workforce which is ready and willing to work. They’ve also failed to give opportunities to young people in the area, with just 7 apprentices on the site hailing from Hackney.
These latest figures are an insult to my constituents, to the homeowners, businesses and taxpayers, who were sold the Games on the promise that we would see a regeneration of the East End.”
back ⇢