THE campaign to secure the future of engineering firm BiFab is to “heat up” again just months after it was saved from administration.
The company, which employs 1400 people at sites in Fife and Lewis, warned it was facing collapse in November as a result of a dispute with Dutch-based Seaway Heavy Lifting.
Workers marched to Holyrood and emergency talks saw the Scottish Government broker a deal to keep the company afloat.
The agreement secured payments to address BiFab’s “immediate cash flow issues” and complete existing orders. That work will end in March and fresh talks on a campaign to secure new contracts is set to begin.
The GMB union met with workers in Methil yesterday, with talks to address the situation facing staff in Arnish to take place next week. Alan Ritchie, GMB organiser for BiFab, told The National: “It’s going to be hotting up over the next few weeks.
“The agreement we got was to get an existing contract back on track. If we hadn’t done that, it would have closed that week – the yards would have been finished, they had no money to pay wages. That contract will end soon. We have got to take it to the next stage.”
Some staff stayed at the yards in November as colleagues in overalls took their “Battle for BiFab” to MSPs. Ritchie says the workforce is now known for its commitment, something he says could help win new business. He said: “When people have heard there’s no wages and they keep working, that sends a message.
“We’ll need to discuss the tactics as we go on, we have got to get to the people who can place contracts as well as the political establishment. We need their support.
“If BiFab goes, the skilled workers go, the knowledge goes and the technical ability goes.”
A Holyrood spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with the company, investors and relevant parties to ensure a strong, sustainable future for BiFab and the people it employs.
“By working with BiFab to secure new business, we hope to provide the best means of creating jobs in the longer term.”
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