GMB Call For Shipbuilding Future
Tuesday 24th January 2012
GMB CALL ON UK GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST UK
SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY TO USE THREE YEAR BREATHING SPACE TO SECURE
NEW WORK FOR THE INDUSTRY
There are opportunities and the UK is
very well placed because we have a reputation that is second to
none, with a highly skilled and motivated workforce says
GMB
GMB commented on media speculation regarding
the future of BAe shipyards when work on the aircraft carriers for
the Royal Navy is completed later this decade.
Keith Hazlewood GMB National Secretary said
“Given that there are at least three years before the steel
work on the carriers is finished that is enough time to find work
to keep these highly skilled workers busy for the benefit of the UK
as a whole.
The Appledore shipyard in Devon, for
example, is working on fishery protection vessels for the Irish
State. With proper support for “the makers” by the UK Government
there is no reason why this cannot be built upon.
There should also be scope for steel
fabrication workers and these yards to be put to work on the
massive programme underway to construct the Round 3 new generation
of steel windmills to be installed around the coast an on land in
the UK. Since the Crown Estates is involved these is no reason why
the UK Government should not specify steel fabrication must be
sourced from these yards.
When orders for the windmills are
placed investment will be needed for the construction of the
necessary facilities. There was media speculation over the weekend
on this including proposed facilities for Vestas in Sheerness and
Siemens in Hull. “
Gary Cook Regional Officer covering the
Portsmouth yard said “GMB is aware that consultants have
been hired to study all aspects of the company's shipbuilding
business.
There are three years of steelwork on
the aircraft carriers to do at Portsmouth plus further years of
work on outfitting theses ships.
The prospect of winning orders to
build merchant ships in UK yards is not great because of subsidies
paid to yards in other countries, particularly the Far East. This
is something that should be dealt with.
BAE is looking for naval work from
other nations. There are opportunities and the UK is very well
placed because we have a reputation that is second to none, with a
highly skilled and motivated workforce. This must be made to count
for something.”
Jim Moohan, GMB Regional Officer and chairman
of the Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions in Scotland said:
“We must capitalise on the present work programme which for
the first time in 40 years has UK shipyards working in partnership
to be a cost effective industry.
The present carrier project is not
only boosting the Shipbuilding profile, but is also having a
positive knock-on effect to the manufacturing sector.
We must use our expertise to exploit
this positive image to gain export work not only within the naval
sphere, but also within commercial shipbuilding within the world
market and for this we need a level playing field.
We have failed miserably in the past
number of years to explore this market.
The UK Government, with all the
political parties on-board and using the present partnership we
have in place with the companies, must seek to expand our visions
and thoughts in securing work from overseas.
With less than 10,000 highly skilled
workers within the shipbuilding industry any further loss of
commitment to support the yards will result in the total collapse
of all UK shipbuilding and the loss of a very highly skilled and
motivated workforce.
Investment over the last few years has
created a fantastic opportunity for UK shipbuilding to be
recognised as it was a number of years ago highly respected for
quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.”
End
Contact: Keith Hazlewood. GMB National
Secretary on 07730 434 768 Gary Cook, GMB Regional Officer on
07712 677 594 or 01256 308 080, Jim Moohan, GMB Regional
Officer on 0785 868 405 or 0141 332 864. GMB Press Office
07921 289880 or 07974 251823.