Further blow for Fife shipbuilding

News of further job losses comes as blow for members working at Rosyth dockyard.

*UPDATE FROM PROSPECT – 5 April 2018*

We are continuing at this stage to work closely with the company to identify all opportunities to both avoid and reduce compulsory redundancies and to mitigate the impact on those who may be at risk. A voluntary redundancy scheme is open and it is hoped that a number of potentially at risk roles can be mitigated through this scheme. We are also continuing to pursue the reduction of agency and contract workers on site, both directly employed by Babcock but also by partner companies within the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, to ensure all redeployment opportunities for core Babcock employees are fully realised. The company have indicated they are prepared to consider ways to help employees into future employment including the provision of outplacement support and conversations are continuing to explore how this can best be delivered.

Despite these efforts it is clear, given we have only recently concluded an earlier redundancy exercise where, largely thanks to the work of stewards on-site a potential 250 compulsory redundancies was reduced to less than 30, the opportunities to mitigate a further batch of roles is severely limited. It is therefore essential that MOD orders are placed as soon as possible to provide certainty on future work and workforce requirements ensuring key skills are retained and all opportunities for redeployment are realised.

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Originally published 13/03/2018

Prospect, the union for professionals, specialists and managers in the shipbuilding industry expressed concern and disappointment at the further job cuts announced at the Rosyth dockyard yesterday.

Following an internal re-organisation another 150 roles will be lost at the yard, bringing to nearly 400 the number of jobs lost at the Fife yard over the past six months. This means total job losses across Babcock’s marine division now stand at around 900.

Jane Rose, Prospect negotiator said:

“We’ll work with our reps, members and management to try and mitigate the losses, and as always we’ll seek to avoid compulsory redundancies, but there is no escaping the fact that our members are angry and disappointed at further job cuts.”

Richard Hardy, Prospect national secretary for Scotland added:

“We’ve been campaigning for some time for the Westminster Government to move ahead with the orders for Fleet Solid Support vessels and Type 31e Frigates so that Rosyth and other yards across the UK can have certainty about workloads.

“Yesterday’s job losses were the result of internal changes at Babcock, but where there is a certainty of future workload displaced staff can be more readily re-deployed.

“It’s vital that the MoD places these orders with UK yards soon or the promised drumbeat of ship launches will be replaced by a lament for lost skills and jobs.”

Prospect members affected at Babcock can speak to their Prospect reps. Any member who does not have the relevant contact details can contact the Prospect helpdesk to be put in touch.

If you work for Babcock and are not a member of a union yet, you can find out more about joining Prospect here.