Workers to barricade yard in fight for jobs

Turbines: Gate to be guarded to ensure structures stay put

Fears that unfinished turbine foundations will be removed by stealth has resulted in personnel at the crisis-hit BiFab site in the Western Isles voting to barricade the yard.

Workers at the Arnish facility in Stornoway are concerned their jobs could end up disappearing if partly completed structures are shipped away.

A mass meeting of BiFab workers in Stornoway took place yesterday with a senior representative of the GMB Scotland union flying in to attend.

BiFab – also known as Burntisland Fabrications – faces administration after suffering a “critical cash position” connected to its £100million contract to supply 26 wind turbine foundations for the SSE-led 588MW Beatrice offshore windfarm in the Outer Moray Firth.

Unless its critical financial problems are resolved this month the company’s yards in Lewis and Fife are expected to close.

Some 1,400 jobs, between direct employment and the supply chain, are at risk.

A lengthy and damaging payment dispute involving manufactured assemblies for the windfarm has caused an extremely serious cash flow problem for BiFab.

Main contractor Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL) insisted BiFab has been paid in line with the contract but it emerged that a significant amount of money has been held back. Alan Ritchie from GMB Scotland recounted the workforce’s fears that Seaway may be planning to “take this contract to be completed in the north of England”. Mr Ritchie said: “We need urgent intervention by the Scottish Government and Westminster government to ensure these yards continue.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse are speaking to managers at SHL.

Mr Ritchie said BiFab has completed 78% of the work yet has only received about 60% of payments.

Speaking immediately after the workforce vote, the union representative explained: “The workers unanimously passed a resolution to fight for the yards at Arnish in Stornoway and in Fife.

“The resolution was clear – that the workers will have a work-in.

“Workers will be manning the gate. Nothing will go out or come into the yard without the strict permission of the joint shop stewards’ committee.”

The Arnish yard workforce has reduced in size in recent days with a large number of sub-contracted and agency staff leaving.

There are still about 100 personnel employed at the island site.

Western Isles Council leader Roddie Mackay said it would be a “tragedy” for the islands if the Arnish yard closed.

He added: “It is frustrating that despite the loyalty of the workers and their ability in this particular contract to deliver on time and on budget that the company faces these major challenges.

“Any loss of jobs would be a significant blow to the local economy and it is critical that the government and other stakeholders in the supply chain bring new money to the table to help sustain the company.”

“Nothing will go out or come into the yard without strict permission”

ACTION: Alan Ritchie with workers at the BiFab site who voted to barricade the yard and prevent structures being shipped off the islands