GMB: Ministers must urgently deliver contracts promised to shipyard

Ministers have failed to secure the future of Scotland’s publicly-owned shipyard despite pre-election promises, unions warn.

GMB, the biggest union at Ferguson Marine has demanded urgent clarity around contracts to build two small ferries, a marine research vessel, and a marine protection vessel announced by the Scottish Government in March.

Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said none of the four contracts have yet been confirmed and warned further delay will undermine the future of the nationalised shipyard.

She said confirmation is needed urgently because, even if the contracts are signed off immediately, construction will not begin for another year or more threatening to drain skills and experience from the yard in Port Glasgow.

She said: “Ministers were loud enough in March when promising support for Ferguson Marine but, four months later, have absolutely nothing to say.

“These contracts were fanfared by the Scottish Government right before an election campaign but weeks are turning into months without news or apparent progress.

“Ferguson’s does not have the luxury of time to allow more boxes to be ticked at Holyrood. It needs work now.

“The communities of Port Glasgow have not forgotten the promises made before the Scottish election and will not forgive ministers if those promises are broken.”

Kate Forbes, then deputy first minister, announced the direct award of the four contracts to the yard in March – “a substantial and clear demonstration of our confidence in Ferguson Marine” – but none have yet been approved while only a fraction of £14.2 million promised two years ago to modernise the yard has been delivered.

Gilmour said economy secretary Stephen Flynn and his advisors must understand the urgent need to secure the yard, where two ill-planned ferries have blighted progress for more than a decade, and deliver badly-needed work and investment in the short-term.

She said: “Contracts promised tomorrow mean nothing without actual work today.

“This yard has been building excellent small ships for 100 years and it beggars belief that an island nation cannot deliver a steady pipeline of work to a publicly-owned yard.”

“Shipbuilders needs ships to build and, without work, this yard will lose skilled and experienced workers while apprentices will lose the opportunity to learn those skills and gain that experience.”