INVERCLYDE Council’s leader has urged the Scottish Government to step in and save jobs at Ferguson’s shipyard - warning ministers that the area has been ‘haemorrhaging’ roles over the past 18 months.
Councillor Stephen McCabe has made the plea in a letter to cabinet secretary Mairi McAllan following the successful launch of MV Glen Rosa in Port Glasgow last week.
He welcomed Ms McAllan’s attendance at the launch and urged her to promote Ferguson’s, as a partner with ferries and ports agency CMAL, to build the new fleet of small CalMac vessels.
In his letter, Cllr McCabe said: "The council considers Ferguson Marine to be a major employer in Inverclyde and an integral component of our area’s marine sector – a sector identified as one with strong potential for growth and development that could be one of the keys to the economic recovery of Inverclyde.
"In addition to capitalising on local expertise, Ferguson Marine have experience of delivering on time and on budget, similar classes of vessels.
"The community benefits of this partnership approach, which cannot be calculated through a bidding procurement process, would be the retention of existing skills and jobs; the development of new skills, jobs and apprenticeships; and longer-term security for the local workforce and the wider supply chain."
READ MORE: Top five photos Glen Rosa launch at Ferguson's
Cllr McCabe also highlighted the significant number of jobs lost in Inverclyde over recent months, including the planned closure of EE’s call centre in Greenock.
He added: "As you are aware, Inverclyde has been haemorrhaging over the last 18 months, with the latest blow being the proposed relocation of 450 jobs at EE in Greenock to Glasgow.
"We simply cannot afford to lose another major employer."
When Ms McAllan attended the recent launch of Glen Rosa she promised the Scottish Government would continue to support the publicly-owned yard and its workforce.
She said: "The Scottish Government stands with the workers of Ferguson Marine and the community of Port Glasgow and Inverclyde.
“We stood behind you at nationalisation, we stand behind you today as your work comes to fruition and we stand with you long into the future."
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