Bid to save factory jobs
POLITICIANS and union officials have held crisis talks over the closure of a Springburn factory.
In a meeting at the Gemini plant, Unite called for the nationalisation of the site to save 180 jobs.
TRADE union officials have suggested a Glasgow rail works could be nationalised to save 180 jobs .
Representatives from Unite the Union, who convened a meeting of politicians and workers at the St Rollox Railway Works in Springburn yesterday, have refused to rule out a government buyout of the site.
On Wednesday, it was announced that bosses at Gemini Rail Services were proposing to close the works, which date to the 1800s.
Talks will continue in the coming weeks to establish a positive outcome for the 120 staff and 60 contract workers working at ‘The Caley’.
At present, Gemini have claimed they will fulfill contract work with ScotRail, which is due to last more than a year. However, unions are concerned this would not impact any potential closure and work could be moved to another plant in England.
After the meeting on Friday, Unite officials called the current situation “industrial vandalism” and asked the Scottish Government for a national level endorsement on the site’s future.
Pat McIlvogue, regional industrial officer for the union, added: “This was a good meeting with cross party support and understanding that this is a viable and key infrastructure or Scotland.
“Gemini need to commit to whether they will engage in this process. If not, we need to look at options, including taking the site into national control via a compulsory purchase order.
“There is no party politics with people’s jobs, just a willingness to save them.
“This site has been a part of the railway industry since the 1850s and it will not be brought to a close in 2018
“This a key piece of infrastructure for the country and a great opportunity to keep this under Scotland’s control.”
SNP MSP for the area Bob Doris was also in attendance on Friday and stated there is a willingness from the government to engage.
Mr Doris would also not rule out the option of taking the site into national control.
He said: “The workers brought innovative ideas for a bright future for the site.
“There was a suggestion made that ScotRail Alliance could buy over that site. I suspect nationalisation is not the solution but the Scottish Government have identified funds and investment they are willing to put in. To say that we would be doing that at this moment is flying a kite but I won’t rule anything out.”
Glasgow North East MP, Paul Sweeney, was another at the meeting in Springburn and reiterated his determination to keep the site open.
He added: “This is obviously a worrying time for workers at The Caley but it was clear from meeting with them and their union representatives this morning that they are up for the fight.
“What is scandalous is not only the callous way the new owners have behaved in the run-up to Christmas, but also their inability to recognise the potential of the St Rollox works.”
Meanwhile, reports emerged on Friday suggesting union bosses had alerted Transport Secretary Michael Matheson to concerns over the site’s future in October.
Neither Unite nor Mr Doris were informed of talks with bosses since Gemini took over the site in November.
However, the Scottish Government were given no indication was given that a decision on the future of the plant would be made this week.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Cabinet Secretary asked officials back in October to make contact with the company and the union. These concerns where acted on by Transport Scotland, however a meeting could only be arranged after KBRS were taken over in mid-November.
“We and our partners will do everything in our power to prevent this closure, including working with unions, the workforce and the company involved to explore all options.”
‘‘ We need to look at options, including taking the site into national control