Union reps to meet Labour leader in bid to save Harland and Wolff shipyard

By Alan Jones

Union officials involved in a long-running campaign to save a shipyard from closing will step up efforts on Tuesday to oppose job losses.

Shop stewards from the Unite and GMB unions will travel from the Harland and Wolff yard in Belfast to the TUC Congress in Brighton to seek support from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is due to address delegates.

The yard, best known for building the Titanic, was placed into administration last month, with parties said to be interested in making offers to buy it.

Unite regional officer Susan Fitzgerald said: "Six weeks ago, workers moved to occupy the Belfast shipyard to win a future for jobs and skills at the site. As yet they have still not received any assurances as to their jobs or the future of the shipyard.

"Their action in occupying the shipyard has put centre stage the failure of the UK Government to act, to renationalise the yard and bring forward a long-term plan for its future growth and development.

"It has also kept open the door to the transfer of the company as a going concern to potential buyers.

"The skills among this workforce and the natural assets possessed by Belfast as a port are world-class and are highly attuned to the needs of transitioning to a post-carbon economy.

"Intervention now could safeguard this shipyard as a base for future expansion - and provide needed, quality jobs for another generation of workers.

"It is that vision which has inspired the workers to take radical action and to stand resolutely.

"Representatives of the workforce will take that message to the TUC conference in Brighton with the aim of raising further their campaign and using that platform to publicly challenge the Conservative Government of Boris Johnson on its total inaction in the face of this jobs threat.

"The workforce representatives will meet with Jeremy Corbyn to seek his party's support for renationalisation and a programme of investment for jobs and skills at the shipyard."

Denis Walker, GMB senior organiser, said: "Harland and Wolff workers are taking a brave step to save the yard for future generations - not just themselves.

"After occupying their beloved yard for weeks on end, they've now travelled to England to ask Jeremy Corbyn for help.

"If Harland and Wolff closes, it will be yet another nail in the coffin of UK manufacturing.

"The yard must be taken into public hands to save Belfast's proud shipbuilding heritage."