GMB slams government and industry ‘green jobs’ failure as more cuts announced at BiFab
GMB Scotland Media Statement
For immediate distribution: Friday 31 January 2020
GMB slams government and industry ‘green jobs’ failure as more cuts announced at BiFab
Following an announcement today (Friday 31 January) that renewables fabrication firm BiFab has confirmed a further sixteen layoffs with the wind-down of oil and gas manufacturing work, and amid speculation that a vital contract from the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind project could be further delayed until August, GMB Scotland Organiser Hazel Nolan has laid blame at the door of the Scottish Government and Scottish Renewables, stating:
“The Minister for Energy and the Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables should hold their hands up and admit: “We are failing to bring the green jobs revolution to Scotland”.
“Another score of redundancies were confirmed at BiFab today and the three yards in Fife and Lewis will again be maintained by a skeleton staff by the end of February while we desperately hope for scraps of work from our own billion pound offshore wind developments.
“It’s a sad close to a week where both Mr Wheelhouse and Mrs Mack spoke about their ‘excitement’ and ‘enormous interest’ over our offshore wind sector, ignoring the distress supply chain firms currently find themselves along with the communities who need them.
“The truth is that under their respective stewardships our offshore wind sector boom has been strong for workers in countries like Indonesia, Spain and the UAE - anywhere but Scotland, frankly.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Hazel Nolan on 07921 885786 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.
Notes to Editors:
The Minister for Energy, Paul Wheelhouse MSP and Scottish Renewables Chief Executive Claire Mack were speaking at the Scottish Renewables Conference in Glasgow this week.
“Scots minister urges offshore wind ‘partnership’ approach”, ReNews.Biz, 28 January 2020, access at: https://renews.biz/57667/scots-minister-urges-offshore-wind-partnership-approach/
Media reports late last year reported the award of eight turbine jackets to BiFab from theEDF owned Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm development.
“BiFab wins fabrication deal for EDF’s £2bn Scottish wind farm project”, Energy Voice, 28 November 2019, access at: https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/212989/breaking-bifab-win-fabrication-deal-for-edfs-2bn-scottish-wind-farm-project/
