Sturgeon in call for a halt to redundancy threat at rail firm
NICOLA Sturgeon has called on a Springburn rail firm to remove the threat of redundancy for 200 workers and extend its 45-day consultation into the yard’s future.
The First Minister backed the pleas of the area’s MSP Bob Doris and Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard to protect jobs at the historic St Rollox railways.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions yesterday, Ms Sturgeon agreed Gemini Rail should allow more time for the consultation, which is due to end on Monday.
She said: “It is worth noting the railway works has an order book for ScotRail train refurbishment that runs until July, so there is absolutely no need to proceed as quickly as the company is doing.
“Scottish Enterprise is working towards having a rail engineering hub at one or more locations in Scotland where heavy maintenance or innovation can take place.
“That work is under way, and Scottish Enterprise has had discussions with the site owner about how the railway works could fit into that strategic hub idea.
The First Minister agreed the Caley site should also bid for a live tender by Porterbrook Leasing Company to refurbish around 100 class 170 carriages, some of which will run on the ScotRail network. That move could bring 40 jobs to the East End for around three years.
She told Mr Doris: “Gemini should remove the threat of redundancy and extend the consultation.
“It should certainly be prepared to bid for any work that is going and to give us all time to look at all options for securing the jobs at the Springburn works for the future.”
However, she would confirm the Scottish Government was considering bringing the railways into public ownership, similar to the deal struck at Prestwick Airport in 2013.
When quizzed by Mr Leonard, the SNP leader said: “Before we can take a decision such as the one that we took around Prestwick airport—which I think was a good decision at the time—we have to undertake due diligence and look at all the different aspects.
“That is why we have encouraged Gemini Rail Services to extend the consultation, because the current consultation period is too short to allow any serious exploration of alternative options. We are prepared to look at all options and we will continue to do so.”
As previously reported, the closure threat sparked outrage among trade unions and saw the creation of the Rally Roon the Caley campaign to prevent job cuts.