Stop using shipyard workers as a political football
GMB Scotland tells MSPs: Stop using shipyard workers as a political football
GMB Scotland has challenged Douglas Ross to outline his plans for the future of Ferguson Marine after the Tory leader waved a 2016 photograph of Humza Yousaf visiting the yard during First Minister’s Questions today.
The union said the stunt is just the latest example of MSPs using workers at the publicly-owned yard as a political football.
Alex Logan, who has worked at Ferguson's for over 40 years, said the workforce were not to blame for delays to the construction of the Glen Sannox and Hull 802 and it was deplorable for the reputation of a skilled and committed workforce “to be continually dragged through the mud.”
Logan, GMB Scotland’s convener at the publicly-owned yard, said politicians of all parties should be working together to secure the award of direct contracts to Ferguson's and other yards as part of a new shipbuilding strategy.
He said: "The continuing point-scoring of politicians does not create or protect a single job in Scotland or help build a single ship. Politicians of all parties should be outlining their plans for the future of Ferguson’s and the jobs there.”
He urged MSPs to help build an industrial strategy to replace CalMac's ageing fleet with ferries built in Scotland, using domestic supply chains to protect and create jobs at shipyards like Ferguson's.
He said: “We have new contracts from BAE for work on the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates. If they have confidence in the workforce to deliver why can’t our MSPs.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07738486317 or email:
