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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Shipyard workers in crisis talks | Shipyard workers in crisis talks |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Workers at the Ferguson shipyard at Port Glasgow have met at the site amid fears of job losses. | Workers at the Ferguson shipyard at Port Glasgow have met at the site amid fears of job losses. |
| A shipbuilding union said 99 out of 126 workers would be made redundant, threatening the survival of one of the last yards on the lower Clyde. | A shipbuilding union said 99 out of 126 workers would be made redundant, threatening the survival of one of the last yards on the lower Clyde. |
| About 70 employees attended the meeting and were told that unions would seek intervention by the Scottish Executive. | About 70 employees attended the meeting and were told that unions would seek intervention by the Scottish Executive. |
| The union claimed Ferguson has opened a 30-day consultation, while the firm said it was preparing its response. | The union claimed Ferguson has opened a 30-day consultation, while the firm said it was preparing its response. |
| Jim Moohan, chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, said 86 manual and 13 technical and managerial staff would lose their jobs. | Jim Moohan, chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, said 86 manual and 13 technical and managerial staff would lose their jobs. |
| 'No alternatives' | 'No alternatives' |
| "The news was worse than we thought as I have been advised that 99 staff are to be made redundant," he said. | "The news was worse than we thought as I have been advised that 99 staff are to be made redundant," he said. |
| "That will leave a very limited staff of around 30 left behind. | "That will leave a very limited staff of around 30 left behind. |
| "This is very blunt and very damaging - the staff losing their jobs have no alternatives for re-employment." | "This is very blunt and very damaging - the staff losing their jobs have no alternatives for re-employment." |
| He said he now feared the total shutdown of the historic yard within a year. | He said he now feared the total shutdown of the historic yard within a year. |
| Local Labour MSP Trish Godman said she had submitted a written question on the issue and would be speaking to ministers to push the yard's case. | Local Labour MSP Trish Godman said she had submitted a written question on the issue and would be speaking to ministers to push the yard's case. |
| It's really a very bleak outlook Jim MoohanJoint unions | It's really a very bleak outlook Jim MoohanJoint unions |
| The Ferguson yard was threatened with closure two years ago when it lost a vital contract to a Polish rival. | |
| Unions said the yard needed a £14m tender to build a fisheries protection vessel to safeguard its future. | Unions said the yard needed a £14m tender to build a fisheries protection vessel to safeguard its future. |
| Mr Moohan said: "It's really a very bleak outlook. | Mr Moohan said: "It's really a very bleak outlook. |
| "We will be calling on the Scottish Executive to place this multi-million pound order at Fergusons to secure the future. | "We will be calling on the Scottish Executive to place this multi-million pound order at Fergusons to secure the future. |
| "If not, then I'm sorry but they are on the edge of closure. | |
| "Without any action the executive are in effect placing a closure sign upon the yard." | |
| 'Fresh approach' | |
| He added that the company had only been able to retain its current position through good management and the commitment of the workforce. | He added that the company had only been able to retain its current position through good management and the commitment of the workforce. |
| "Fergusons is the last commercial shipyard in Scotland," he said. | "Fergusons is the last commercial shipyard in Scotland," he said. |
| "This multi-million pound order is the last one for several years. | "This multi-million pound order is the last one for several years. |
| "If it's not placed at Fergusons the yard will close in the next year or so." | "If it's not placed at Fergusons the yard will close in the next year or so." |
| Scottish National Party enterprise spokesman Jim Mather MSP said that Scotland and its shipbuilding building deserved better. | Scottish National Party enterprise spokesman Jim Mather MSP said that Scotland and its shipbuilding building deserved better. |
| "It's time for a fresh approach to government in Scotland along with new thinking to deliver the real growth and economic muscle that Scotland require," he said. | "It's time for a fresh approach to government in Scotland along with new thinking to deliver the real growth and economic muscle that Scotland require," he said. |