Goverment talks on future of Ferguson Marine shipyard
Economy Secretary Màiri Mcallan is set to join talks with trade unions in a bid to secure a future for Ferguson Marine shipyard.
GMB Scotland is due to discuss the beleaguered shipyard in Port Glasgow next month, and has confirmed the Ms Mcallan has agreed to be there.
At the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) conference in Dundee, GMB’S convener at Ferguson Marine Alex Logan said the meeting with Ms Mcallan will be a chance to receive “urgent reassurance” from the Scottish Government of the workforce’s future.
Mr Logan said: “We have been clear to the Scottish Government that if they want to secure a future for the yard and jobs there, then it needs investment to modernise the yard and make it more competitive. We need a direct award of the small ferries which we have a track record in building and continued public ownership.
“Like many of the workers at Ferguson Marine before me, I have been a shipbuilder there all of my life. What we are fighting for now is the future of the generations to come.”
GMB Scotland says it hopes new contracts will be secured for the yard on the back of the talks with the economy secretary. This comes as the two Calmac ferries the shipyard is building, the MV Glen Sannox and the MV Glen Rosa, have been plagued by delays and overspend.
The MV Glen Rosa was officially launched last week, with Ms Mcallan attending the launch event and promising the Scottish Government would support the publiclyowned yard and its workforce.
Speaking at the launch, Ms Mcallan said: “The Scottish Government stands with the workers of Ferguson Marine and the community of Port Glasgow and Inverclyde.
“We stood behind you at nationalisation, we stand behind you today as your work comes to fruition and we stand with you long into the future.”
GMB Scotland had staged a similar round of talks six months ago between MPS, MSPS, councillors and shipyard executives, where they agreed Ferguson Marine has the potential to play a central role in Scotland’s industrial strategy. However Ms Mcallan was not in attendance at this meeting.