All UK shipyards must get the work they need to thrive

Ministers finally concede a ‘significant’ amount of the FSS work will be done at home following GMB Union campaign

GMB, the shipbuilding union, has reacted to today’s announcement of the winning bid for the Solid Fleet Support ships tender.

GMB Union has campaigned since 2016 for the Fleet Solid Support ships to be built in the UK using UK steel and shipbuilding supply chain. [1]

Matt Roberts, GMB National Officer said:

“Following today’s announcement, the Defence Secretary must reassure GMB members and the public that all UK shipyards will get the work they need to thrive – no UK region or nation left behind.

“Let’s not forget it’s only a few short years since Harland & Wolff, set to benefit from this bid, was occupied by workers to save the yard from closure.

“Ever since the last RFA order debacle from the Tory government back in 2012, we have campaigned for all of the build work on FSS to be done in the UK and for each shipyard in every nation and region of the country to get decent packages of work from this big government order.

“Through GMB’s campaigning, we have come a long way from the Tories sending the MARS tankers build to South Korea.

“Ministers finally concede a ‘significant’ amount of the FSS work will be done at home.

“The problem is that they don’t define ‘significant’ by volume or value and they don’t tell us what guarantees or enforceability there is. Due diligence must be rigorous.

“The next stage of our campaign will be to ensure that all promises made by the winning bidders are kept and the Government invests in – and protects – all of our shipyards for our future sovereign defence capability.”