Unions at the struggling Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow have urged First Minister John Swinney to deliver contracts, not more promises. The demand comes days after bosses announced plans to axe almost a quarter of the workforce while waiting for the Scottish Government to sign off promised contracts.
Job cuts and contract delays
The direct award of two CalMac ferries and two maritime research and protection vessels was announced before the Holyrood election in May. But Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn is now refusing to predict when the work will be approved.
The shipyard, taken into state control by the SNP Government in 2019 and plagued by repeated delays, cost overruns and leadership turmoil, said it was set to cut 70 of its 283 workers. The announcement came amid growing frustration over delays to contracts promised by ministers. The Scottish Government last night refused to confirm if and when the First Minister would visit the shipyard.
Union demands and political criticism
GMB Scotland, the biggest union at the yard, warned only urgent action can stop jobs, skills and morale draining from the last commercial yard on the Clyde, where a third of the current CalMac fleet was built. Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said: “If Mr Swinney is visiting Fergusons, he should arrive with signed contracts not more warm words.”
Scottish Labour Economy spokesperson Daniel Johnson said: “The workers at Fergusons deserve more than warm words and photo ops from the SNP. It would be an insult for John Swinney to show up at the yard without any reassurances for the workers.” Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP said: “These workers have been let down by the SNP over and over again.”
Ferry costs and future concerns
Ferguson Marine was rescued from administration by the Scottish Government in 2019 and has since been at the centre of the long-running scandal surrounding two dual-fuel CalMac ferries. The vessels, the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, are years late and are expected to cost taxpayers around £500million – almost five times the original £97million contract price.
The Scottish Government has consistently said it hopes eventually to return Ferguson Marine to the private sector. But the publicly-owned yard has struggled to secure orders in recent years, raising concerns over its long-term viability. Staff have been invited to apply for voluntary redundancy, with bosses insisting the move is necessary to protect the yard’s future.
In March, before the Holyrood election, the Scottish Government announced plans to directly award the yard contracts to build four future vessels – two small CalMac ferries, a fisheries research ship and a marine protection vessel – described by ministers as providing a “bridge to the future” for Ferguson Marine. Speaking last week, Swinney said: “The Government’s given that commitment for that work to go to Ferguson Marine and, while I regret the redundancies that are being taken forward, it’s vital that the yard is sustainable and the contracts from the Scottish Government will assist in that process.”
Following the announcement of the job cuts, Ferguson Marine chief executive Graeme Thomson said completing the Glen Rosa was the yard’s “immediate focus”. He said the shipyard was confident it would achieve the necessary number of redundancies through the voluntary process.
