Taskforce bids to secure Fife jobs

Rosyth: Hopes of ensuring future of shipbuilding at yard

A taskforce is to be created aimed at securing the future of shipbuilding in Fife.

The organiser of the GMB in Scotland, Gary Cook, says that establishing a cross-political coalition will be crucial in ensuring that construction of new vessels can continue at Rosyth following completion of two Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

David Ross, the leader of Fife Council, has already committed to working with the union in a bid to secure future contracts, with calls having been made for the yard to benefit from forthcoming contract awards for new Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships.

Mr Cook said: “Rosyth makes a massive economic and employment contribution to Fife and to the wider Scottish economy.

“These are highly skilled and highvalue manufacturing jobs that sustain workers, families and communities and we cannot do without them.

“That’s why GMB Scotland has been so vocal on the importance of defence contracts to Scotland.

“The forthcoming RFA contracts provide an opportunity help secure Rosyth’s long-term future.

“We believe the best way to achieve this is to replicate the Aircraft Carrier Alliance work-share programme to secure the RFA work for UK shipyards, with Rosyth primed to benefit.

“GMB Scotland is now driving crossparty political and employer discussions to build the strongest coalition possible in support of this objective.”

Earlier this month the MoD announced that it intends to close its Caledonia base at Rosyth by 2022 as part of its latest defence spending review.

The closure will coincide with the completion of HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the two aircraft carriers under construction in Rosyth, and will end the Royal Navy’s historic association with Fife.