UK Government Must ‘Move At Pace’ On RFA Contracts

UK Government Must ‘Move At Pace’ On RFA Contracts To Deliver Parker Review Proposals

GMB Scotland has today (Tuesday 29 November) called on the UK government to ‘move at pace’ on the delivery of vital Royal Navy support vessel contracts to UK yards if it wants to realise the recommendations of Sir John Parker’s naval shipbuilding report.

Having secured the future of the Upper Clyde until the 2030s through the delivery of the type-26 frigate programme, the manufacture of three 40,000 tonne Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels through a work share programme across UK yards should now be confirmed as soon as possible.

GMB Scotland is also calling on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to give assurances to shipbuilding communities that the RFA contracts will not be subject to an international tender, which could result in the possibility of Royal Navy ships being built by foreign competitors.

GMB Scotland Organiser and Scottish Chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) Gary Cook said: “Michael Fallon can secure a generation of prosperity for shipbuilding communities like Rosyth, which supports over 3,800 jobs and generates over £105 million in wages for the Scottish economy. 

But the key to unlocking this massive economic and employment potential of shipbuilding in the UK is through the award of the RFA contracts to our yards through a new work share programme – that’s how you realise Parker’s vision.

Parker has laid down the challenge and the trade unions have responded by showing the way forward and if we move at pace with the government and industry in tow then we can secure a massive prize for Scotland and the UK.

GMB has already demonstrated the huge value of shipbuilding in Scotland and having secured the future of the Upper Clyde we can now win for our shipbuilding communities across the rest of Scotland and the UK.

The ball is very much in the UK government’s court and it’s time for them to make good on their words.”

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Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser & CSEU Scottish Chair Gary Cook on 07712 677594 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077