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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Shipyard workers in crisis talks | Shipyard workers in crisis talks |
| (20 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. |
| Ferguson said it was in discussions with BAE Systems at Scotstoun and Devon with a view to transferring some staff. | Ferguson said it was in discussions with BAE Systems at Scotstoun and Devon with a view to transferring some staff. |
| Richard Deane, managing director, said the shipyard would remain open. | Richard Deane, managing director, said the shipyard would remain open. |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | "Without any action the executive are in effect placing a closure sign upon the yard." |
| 'Fresh approach' | '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 industry deserved better. | Scottish National Party enterprise spokesman Jim Mather MSP said that Scotland and its shipbuilding industry 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. |
| Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "What is important now is how we help the beleaguered community of Inverclyde deal with the current economic challenges which have been exacerbated by this very unwelcome news." | |
| There are no current tenders for fisheries protection vessels Scottish Executive | There are no current tenders for fisheries protection vessels Scottish Executive |
| Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said: "These job losses highlight, once again, the need for the executive to adopt a strategic approach to public procurement. | Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said: "These job losses highlight, once again, the need for the executive to adopt a strategic approach to public procurement. |
| "It is time the executive shed its institutional timidity in the face of all things European and stood up for Scottish industry." | "It is time the executive shed its institutional timidity in the face of all things European and stood up for Scottish industry." |
| An executive spokesperson said: "There are no current tenders for fisheries protection vessels. | An executive spokesperson said: "There are no current tenders for fisheries protection vessels. |
| "Following the identification of flaws in the previous tender process, the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency said it would review its internal procedures. | "Following the identification of flaws in the previous tender process, the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency said it would review its internal procedures. |
| "The SFPA will not retender until that review is completed." | "The SFPA will not retender until that review is completed." |