Published: Tuesday, 25th November, 2008 15:40
Rosyth unions play down carriers fears
By Matt Meade
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ROSYTH Dockyard's super carrier contracts are not under jeopardy with work already under way in preparing for the two £4 billion ships.
Politicians and trade union officials have hit back at suggestions in national media reports that the economic crisis could delay work on the vessels, and threaten hundreds of jobs.
However, work has already begun on metal cutting and dock widening in preparation for the shipbuilding.
Labour MSP John Park, a former trade union convener at the dockyard, said it was "business as usual" for workers who started cutting steel last week.
He added, "The workers at Rosyth have been so used to speculation that it will be water off a duck's back to them.
"It doesn't surprise me that these stories are going round.
"People are going to speculate in an economic crisis, and if there are going to be changes I can't see them being too detrimental."
He said that, while the possibility remained that the contract may be lengthened, it was unlikely Rosyth would suffer any negative impact.
And he added, "These carrier contracts are signed and sealed.
"Work on the warships will secure hundreds of jobs, with officials at the dockyard saying recruitment and not job losses was the major issue.
The super carriers contract was signed in July and work will be split with Govan, as well as Portsmouth and Barrow in Cumbria.
Raymond Duguid, chair of Dockyard Industrial Joint Council, said, "We're aware of these stories that go around, which are often exaggerated – the MoD constantly reviews and assesses all its current contracts.
"Refit work is our bread and butter and as far as we are concerned, the contract is going ahead."
Lib Dem defence spokesman Willie Rennie, the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, agreed with reports that defence chiefs were looking to save cash to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as the financial crisis takes hold.
He said, "We would not be in this situation if the government hadn't mismanaged the MoD budget and squandered billions on the war in Iraq.
"If it's about an efficiency drive then that's fine but if it's about slashing and burning then that is going have a significant effect on the maintenance of skills in the Dockyard and the quality of aircraft carrier that is produced.
An MoD spokesperson said, "We have committed ourselves to two carriers.
"We are undertaking an examination of our equipment programme in order to prioritise support for operations and drive down costs.
"This exercise will be completed shortly.”
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