IT WAS THE WORK-IN WOT WON IT FOR US
BiFab staff’s ‘fantastic example’ hailed
RELIEVED employees at BiFab yesterday said their decision to stage a work-in saved the day.
A rescue deal was struck on Saturday for the engineering firm, who have 1400 workers at their yards in Burntisland and Methil, Fife, and at Arnish on the Isle of Lewis.
It means work will continue on their contract for the Beatrice offshore windfarm in the Moray Firth.
Scaffolder Jim Robertson, 43, of Kirkcaldy, said: “I have no doubt that had we not staged the work-in and vowed to finish the contract that those gates would have closed last week.
“I think that it was the positive message we sent out that forced the Government and the management to make sure a deal was done.”
He added: “There is just huge relief that a deal has been struck to save the plant.”
Unite union’s regional officer Bob McGregor thanked the workers, who had vowed to carry on working without pay, for “refusing to accept defeat”.
He said: “They set a fantastic example and it now looks like the plant has gone from being all but lost to having a bright future ahead.”
BiFab were saved after the Scottish Government indicated that they will make a commercial loan facility available to the firm if necessary. A financial package was also struck with Seaway Heavy Lifting, SSE and other partners on the Beatrice project.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown revealed BiFab almost went bust three times in the week leading up to the deal, which will see through the contract to April next year.
He added: “What we have to do now, and we’re actively involved in this with some very promising early signs, is make sure they can win further work for the yard.”