The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fife yard workers take their fight to Holyrood
Employees along with family, friends and neighbours are told no stone will be left unturned in bid to save jobs
More than 1,000 protesters battled for Bifab in a march to the Scottish Parliament.
Employees of the firm in crisis, which has yards in Burntisland, Methil and on the Isle of Lewis, were supported by family, friends and neighbours at the demonstration.
A GMB spokesman, who estimated the noisy crowd went into four figures, said it was the biggest union demonstration in recent times.
Rallying workers outside Holyrood, Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said they would “fight tooth and nail” for their jobs.
He urged Prime Minister Theresa May to get Dutch-owned contractor Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL) round the table to “end this uncertainty”.
He said: “We are going nowhere. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder and keep these yards open.”
GMB spokesman Peter Welsh praised the fight put up by the workers.
He said: “That effort, the dignity they have shown should be reflected in the corridors of power and among the stakeholders in this project. This is a future that’s worth fighting for. Letting the workers and the communities go under isn’t an option.”
Economy Secretary Keith Brown told protesters that the Scottish Government was “absolutely committed” to securing the future of Bifab.
Options were being explored, he said, and a positive solution could be achieved.
He said: “We are working together to make sure we get the right solution and we will continue to do that, we will continue to keep the trade union representatives informed as to what we are doing. I want to assure you there will be no stone left unturned.”
Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance said the impact of losing the Fife yards, both of which are in his constituency, would be huge.
He said: “The amount of jobs, 600 permanent and 400 from agencies, is a lot of money to be lost from the economy.
“It’s also a horrendous time for families affected, coming up to Christmas.”
However, he said positive indications were emerging from negotiations, adding: “There’s still a long way to go but it’s not as cut and dry as it first appeared.”
Unions claim the firm’s financial difficulties are a result of Seaway Heavy Lifting not paying the company for work already completed.
However, SHL maintains it has continued to pay Bifab on time and estimated that 61% of the work had been completed in return for paying Bifab 61% of the project value.