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| Clyde shipyard job cuts would be total betrayal, say unions | Clyde shipyard job cuts would be total betrayal, say unions |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Unions have accused the government of “total betrayal” as it emerged that up to 800 redundancies from Clydeside shipyards could result from backsliding on David Cameron’s pledge to provide a steady stream of orders to safeguard the industry. | Unions have accused the government of “total betrayal” as it emerged that up to 800 redundancies from Clydeside shipyards could result from backsliding on David Cameron’s pledge to provide a steady stream of orders to safeguard the industry. |
| Representatives of the joint trade unions from the Scotstoun and Govan shipyards were told by BAE Systems at a meeting on Friday morning that a “worst-case scenario” of 800 redundancies was possible if the UK government pulled back from its commitment to the manufacture of eight type-26 frigates on the Clyde. | Representatives of the joint trade unions from the Scotstoun and Govan shipyards were told by BAE Systems at a meeting on Friday morning that a “worst-case scenario” of 800 redundancies was possible if the UK government pulled back from its commitment to the manufacture of eight type-26 frigates on the Clyde. |
| The contracts were first promised in the lead up to the Scottish independence referendum, during which the impact of leaving the UK on the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde was a key issue. | The contracts were first promised in the lead up to the Scottish independence referendum, during which the impact of leaving the UK on the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde was a key issue. |
| SNP leader and first minister Nicola Sturgeon said it would be “unacceptable” for the UK government to renege on its commitments. | |
| GMB Scotland understands that these cuts would result in outsourcing up to 20% of work from the upper Clyde to yards in England over the lifetime of the frigate contract, which has already been delayed until the end of 2017. | GMB Scotland understands that these cuts would result in outsourcing up to 20% of work from the upper Clyde to yards in England over the lifetime of the frigate contract, which has already been delayed until the end of 2017. |
| The secretary of GMB Scotland, Gary Smith, said: “This would be a total betrayal of the upper Clyde workforce by a desperate Tory government trying to shift the goalposts in the face of their failing economic stewardship. | The secretary of GMB Scotland, Gary Smith, said: “This would be a total betrayal of the upper Clyde workforce by a desperate Tory government trying to shift the goalposts in the face of their failing economic stewardship. |
| “We’ve gone from the upper Clyde workforce being promised the manufacture of 13 type-26 frigates in 2014, only for that to be cut to eight frigates last year. We’ve gone from the promise of a world-class ‘frigate factory’ on the Scotstoun site, only to be told the plans were shelved. | “We’ve gone from the upper Clyde workforce being promised the manufacture of 13 type-26 frigates in 2014, only for that to be cut to eight frigates last year. We’ve gone from the promise of a world-class ‘frigate factory’ on the Scotstoun site, only to be told the plans were shelved. |
| “We’ve gone from promised investment that would secure thousands of skilled jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships for a generation, only to be told to prepare for redundancies. In the same week that Scottish unemployment increased by 20,000, the prospect of significant job losses at Govan and Scotstoun doesn’t even bear thinking about – it could tip our economy over the edge.” | “We’ve gone from promised investment that would secure thousands of skilled jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships for a generation, only to be told to prepare for redundancies. In the same week that Scottish unemployment increased by 20,000, the prospect of significant job losses at Govan and Scotstoun doesn’t even bear thinking about – it could tip our economy over the edge.” |
| Unite’s Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said the proposals left shipbuilding on the Clyde “hanging by a thread” and called on defence secretary Michael Fallon to provide “cast iron guarantees that the UK government will keep its promises”. | Unite’s Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said the proposals left shipbuilding on the Clyde “hanging by a thread” and called on defence secretary Michael Fallon to provide “cast iron guarantees that the UK government will keep its promises”. |
| Rafferty added: “Those shipbuilders received a promise before the Scottish referendum from the UK government that their future would be secure.” | Rafferty added: “Those shipbuilders received a promise before the Scottish referendum from the UK government that their future would be secure.” |
| Work on new type-26 frigates ordered by the Ministry of Defence had been expected to begin this year. Plans for a state-of-the-art frigate factory, which it had been hoped would help the yard win future export orders, appear to have been shelved. | Work on new type-26 frigates ordered by the Ministry of Defence had been expected to begin this year. Plans for a state-of-the-art frigate factory, which it had been hoped would help the yard win future export orders, appear to have been shelved. |
| The multimillion-pound contract was confirmed by David Cameron in February 2015, having been delayed until after the Scottish independence referendum. Pro-union campaigners said loss of contracts would be inevitable if Scotland became independent because UK military ships could only be built in UK shipyards. | The multimillion-pound contract was confirmed by David Cameron in February 2015, having been delayed until after the Scottish independence referendum. Pro-union campaigners said loss of contracts would be inevitable if Scotland became independent because UK military ships could only be built in UK shipyards. |
| Another MoD contract, this time to build smaller offshore patrol vessels, was announced by the coalition government during the final weeks of the referendum campaign. It was regarded with suspicion by many yes voters who believed that the no campaign – labelled Project Fear – was overselling the impact on jobs should Scotland choose to become independent. | Another MoD contract, this time to build smaller offshore patrol vessels, was announced by the coalition government during the final weeks of the referendum campaign. It was regarded with suspicion by many yes voters who believed that the no campaign – labelled Project Fear – was overselling the impact on jobs should Scotland choose to become independent. |
| This latest jobs threat on the Clyde could harm the Scottish Conservatives as they attempt to exploit Labour’s weakness and become the main opposition to the SNP in May’s Holyrood elections. | This latest jobs threat on the Clyde could harm the Scottish Conservatives as they attempt to exploit Labour’s weakness and become the main opposition to the SNP in May’s Holyrood elections. |
| Sturgeon said: “Workers on the Clyde were given very clear commitments that they would have the contracts to build the Type 26’s and that their jobs would be safe. | |
| “We have already seen the UK government cut back on the size of the order. Reports that the vessels may not be built in Glasgow at all are deeply troubling. | |
| “It would be unacceptable for the UK government to renege on its commitment to build these ships on the Clyde. The workforce at BAE in Glasgow is second to none and the promises made to them must be honoured.” | |
| In last autumn’s defence review, the government announced it would order eight frigates instead of the original 13. There are concerns that promised work on smaller offshore patrol vehicles will not be sufficient to keep the yards’ order books full and maintain the workforce. | In last autumn’s defence review, the government announced it would order eight frigates instead of the original 13. There are concerns that promised work on smaller offshore patrol vehicles will not be sufficient to keep the yards’ order books full and maintain the workforce. |
| The government is expected to publish a national shipbuilding strategy later this year, and there are fears that work that has been promised to Scotland could be transferred elsewhere. “It’s about George Osborne’s northern powerhouse and Tory seats in the south,” said one source. | The government is expected to publish a national shipbuilding strategy later this year, and there are fears that work that has been promised to Scotland could be transferred elsewhere. “It’s about George Osborne’s northern powerhouse and Tory seats in the south,” said one source. |
| A spokesperson for BAE systems said: “Following the strategic defence and security review, we are working with the Ministry of Defence to agree a revised baseline for the type-26 ships and a production schedule for the two additional offshore patrol vessels in Glasgow. We are engaging our trades unions as we work through this process. Our focus is to deliver the capability the Royal Navy needs, while ensuring the best value for UK taxpayers.” | A spokesperson for BAE systems said: “Following the strategic defence and security review, we are working with the Ministry of Defence to agree a revised baseline for the type-26 ships and a production schedule for the two additional offshore patrol vessels in Glasgow. We are engaging our trades unions as we work through this process. Our focus is to deliver the capability the Royal Navy needs, while ensuring the best value for UK taxpayers.” |
| The shadow defence secretary, Emily Thornberry, said the government should honour its commitments to Glasgow workers. She said: “This would be a hammer blow to the British shipbuilding industry, one that cannot be allowed, so I have immediately written to [defence secretary] Michael Fallon demanding assurances that the Tories will honour the commitments they made to the people of Glasgow. | The shadow defence secretary, Emily Thornberry, said the government should honour its commitments to Glasgow workers. She said: “This would be a hammer blow to the British shipbuilding industry, one that cannot be allowed, so I have immediately written to [defence secretary] Michael Fallon demanding assurances that the Tories will honour the commitments they made to the people of Glasgow. |
| “It is essential that the type-26 project goes ahead as planned and that any decision to alter the substance or timetable of the government’s commitments is overturned immediately. If not, the workforce on the Clyde will rightly feel betrayed, angry and abandoned by the Tories, and the unions will have our full support in fighting these plans.” | “It is essential that the type-26 project goes ahead as planned and that any decision to alter the substance or timetable of the government’s commitments is overturned immediately. If not, the workforce on the Clyde will rightly feel betrayed, angry and abandoned by the Tories, and the unions will have our full support in fighting these plans.” |
| Chris Stephens, the MP for the shipyards’ constituency and secretary of the SNP trade union group, said: “The trade unions have every right to feel betrayed by the UK government. They have our full support and we will be working with them to ensure that jobs are protected and there are no compulsory redundancies.” | Chris Stephens, the MP for the shipyards’ constituency and secretary of the SNP trade union group, said: “The trade unions have every right to feel betrayed by the UK government. They have our full support and we will be working with them to ensure that jobs are protected and there are no compulsory redundancies.” |