About 1,000 BiFab workers took part in a “historic” march on the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.
Twelve coaches carrying workers from the energy firm’s Burtisland and Methil bases arrived on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh at 10am.
Partners, children, friends and other members of local communities made their way to stand in solidarity with the workers.
BiFab, which has a 1,400-strong workforce across its Fife and Isle of Lewis sites, is in danger of going into administration.
BiFab employees have been working without pay since Monday after hearing the firm was facing critical cash flow problems.
Workers carrying placards and banners made themselves well and truly heard as they took a stand in Edinburgh on Thursday.
Arriving at Holyrood, speakers from the Fife yards and the GMB Scotland trade union addressed the huge crowd of workers.
GMB Scotland regional organiser Hazel Nolan, who has been supporting BiFab staff in Fife, said the turnout was a “sign of strength and the strength of feeling in the yards”.
She added: “I organised 12 coaches. They left full, and more men came to join us. Everyone wanted to be a part of this.
“This march that we have just had down the Royal Mile is historic. There hasn’t been a private sector march like this of a workforce like this unified in this way in decades in Scotland. So it shows you how important this is.
“These workers aren’t just fighting for their jobs, they are fighting for their families.
“This is crunch time for the Scottish Government. If they can’t keep these yards open, if they can’t keep these jobs in Scotland, what kind of industrial strategy does the Scottish Government have? This is their chance now to show leadership.”
MSP and economy, jobs and fair work secretary Keith Brown also spoke to the crowd.
He said: “There is a possibility for this to be avoided, and there are people with deep pockets that can make a difference.”
He added the “security” of the 1,400 staff “has been the focus for me, for Paul Wheelhouse and the First Minister”.
BiFab claims it has not been paid for work on the offshore Beatrice windfarm project by Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL), something which has been denied by the Dutch contractor.
Talks over how to resolve the dispute and the possible development of a rescue package have been going on all week.
