Workers at BiFab facing new threat of job losses

Manufacturing: Company denies claim most staff are to be made redundant

A fresh threat of job losses hangs over Burntisland Fabrication’s (BiFab) workforce in Arnish, according to trade unions.

Unite and GMB Union claim staff were told in a meeting on Tuesday that the fabrication site in Lewis would be downmanning to zero, with most workers handed a

“We have been waitingonthis announcement for months now ”

six-week notice period. But Canadian owner DF Barnes last night denied the claims.

A source close to the firm made it clear that “no redundancies have been issued to BiFab”.

It comes just months after a job-saving contract got under way to build 100 monopiles for the Moray East Offshore wind farm last year.

It is understood any job losses would affect around 80 staff at Arnish, with some staff going in as early as two weeks. Both unions understand all workers at the site will be released following completion of the monopile work.

In July it was revealed that BiFab had secured work for eight of the 53 jacket foundations for the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm off the coast of Angus.

It is thought the deal could create up to 200 jobs at the firm’s Methil yard in Fife, but no contract has been agreed.

In a joint statement, Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty and his GMB counterpart Gary Smith said: “We have been waiting on this announcement for months now and it’s time for the silence to end because the workforce needs some stability and certainty.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it was “in regular contact” with staff and would “provide support for any staff affected”.

UNCERTAINTY: Unions are claiming that all staff at the Burntisland Fabrication yard in Arnish will be released after a monopile contract ends