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Shipyard workers in crisis talks Shipyard workers in crisis talks
(about 3 hours later)
Workers at the Ferguson shipyard at Port Glasgow have met at the site amid fears of job losses.Workers at the Ferguson shipyard at Port Glasgow have met at the site amid fears of job losses.
A shipbuilding union said 99 out of 126 workers would be made redundant, threatening the survival of one of the last yards on the lower Clyde.A shipbuilding union said 99 out of 126 workers would be made redundant, threatening the survival of one of the last yards on the lower Clyde.
About 70 employees attended the meeting and were told that unions would seek intervention by the Scottish Executive.About 70 employees attended the meeting and were told that unions would seek intervention by the Scottish Executive.
No-one was available for comment at the shipyard. A union official said another meeting would be held at lunchtime.No-one was available for comment at the shipyard. A union official said another meeting would be held at lunchtime.
Jim Moohan, chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, said 86 manual and 13 technical and managerial staff would lose their jobs.Jim Moohan, chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, said 86 manual and 13 technical and managerial staff would lose their jobs.
'No alternatives''No alternatives'
"The news was worse than we thought as I have been advised that 99 staff are to be made redundant," he said."The news was worse than we thought as I have been advised that 99 staff are to be made redundant," he said.
"That will leave a very limited staff of around 30 left behind."That will leave a very limited staff of around 30 left behind.
"This is very blunt and very damaging - the staff losing their jobs have no alternatives for re-employment.""This is very blunt and very damaging - the staff losing their jobs have no alternatives for re-employment."
He said he now feared the total shutdown of the historic yard within a year.He said he now feared the total shutdown of the historic yard within a year.
The firm has formally opened a 30-day consultation period to minimise the impact of the redundancies, the union said.The firm has formally opened a 30-day consultation period to minimise the impact of the redundancies, the union said.
Local Labour MSP Trish Godman said she had submitted a written question on the issue and would be speaking to ministers to push the yard's case.Local Labour MSP Trish Godman said she had submitted a written question on the issue and would be speaking to ministers to push the yard's case.
The Ferguson yard was threatened with closure two years ago when it lost a vital contract to a Polish rival.The Ferguson yard was threatened with closure two years ago when it lost a vital contract to a Polish rival.
It's really a very bleak outlook Jim MoohanJoint unionsIt's really a very bleak outlook Jim MoohanJoint unions
Unions said the yard needed a £14m tender to build a fisheries protection vessel to safeguard its future.Unions said the yard needed a £14m tender to build a fisheries protection vessel to safeguard its future.
Mr Moohan said: "It's really a very bleak outlook.Mr Moohan said: "It's really a very bleak outlook.
"We will be calling on the Scottish Executive to place this multi-million pound order at Fergusons to secure the future."We will be calling on the Scottish Executive to place this multi-million pound order at Fergusons to secure the future.
"If not, then I'm sorry but they are on the edge of closure.""If not, then I'm sorry but they are on the edge of closure."
He added that the company had only been able to retain its current position through good management and the commitment of the workforce.He added that the company had only been able to retain its current position through good management and the commitment of the workforce.
"Fergusons is the last commercial shipyard in Scotland," he said."Fergusons is the last commercial shipyard in Scotland," he said.
"This multi-million pound order is the last one for several years."This multi-million pound order is the last one for several years.
"If it's not placed at Fergusons the yard will close in the next year or so.""If it's not placed at Fergusons the yard will close in the next year or so."
Scottish National Party enterprise spokesman Jim Mather MSP said that Scotland and its shipbuilding building deserved better.
"It's time for a fresh approach to government in Scotland along with new thinking to deliver the real growth and economic muscle that Scotland require," he said.