Further redundancies at the BiFab yards in Fife and Lewis have been confirmed in what was described as a “dark day” for the Scottish economy.
In May, 35 of the remaining 43-strong workforce of the fabricator were issued with redundancy notices, which have now expired.
Just seven part-time staff will oversee the maintenance and security of the yards and assets in Burntisland, Methil and Arnish.
At its peak BiFab had a core workforce of 400 and a further 1,000 contractors.
The company hit financial problems late last year as a major subsea jackets contract for the Beatrice windfarm – the only significant order on its books – moved towards completion.
The rescue of the company being hailed when new buyer JV Driver acquired the business through its DF Barnes subsidiary in April.
However, the industrial construction giant made further cuts to staff as the firm had no work coming in to sustain the remaining “core” staff.
GMB Scotland organiser Alan Ritchie hit out at the Canadian firm.
He said: “We were promised a bright future by the new owners but the cold, hard truth is that these yards are now closed until new orders can be secured.
“There is also anger and resentment that some of the people responsible for the demise of BiFab have had their futures secured, while the workers who made the sacrifices to complete the Beatrice order have been steadily shown the door.
“Jam tomorrow is of no use to our members and their families.
“This is a dark day for Fife and Lewis, and for the Scottish economy.
“Whether there is any light in the weeks and months to come remains to be seen.”
12 managers from the original BiFab business will be retailed by the new owners.
Unite Scottish secretary, Pat Rafferty added: “Unite is disappointed that despite the fanfare last year following the takeover of BiFab by Canadian engineering firm DF Barnes that the decision to effectively close the yard has been taken.
“We all knew the future of the yards depended heavily on orders coming in and the failure to secure contracts would make the future difficult.
“We remain optimistic that the company will be successful in its tendering process for future contracts going forward.
“There is however some degree of irritation that those that must bear some responsibility for where the company is today are still in post, while the workforce has been cast aside.”
Jason Fudge, the chief executive of DF Barnes said the company was “working tirelessly to secure new contracts”.
“That is what is needed for the employees and that is our focus,” he added.
Lesley Laird, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, said: “This is a devastating outcome for BiFab workers who only a few months ago believed the DF Barnes acquisition would herald a new, brighter, future for the troubled firm.
“Nicola Sturgeon announced the rescue deal to workers at the yard but the fanfare surrounding that announcement isn’t ringing true now.
“I’ll be asking the Scottish Government – which remains a minority stakeholder in BiFab – what it intends to do to help the firm secure future orders and what support will be made available to affected workers.
“Future orders or not – this raft of redundancies is a bitter end point for a workforce who fought so determinedly to save the yards in Burntisland, Methil and Arnish.”
