Prime Minister Theresa May has said the UK Government “stand ready” to work with the Scottish Government on a solution to BiFab’s current predicament.
A total of 1,400 jobs are under threat at the firm’s yards in Fife and Lewis and elsewhere after management informed trade unions on Monday morning that the company is facing “critical” cash flow problems in connection with the Beatrice Project – a contract to fabricate 26 jacket foundations for Dutch contractor Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL) for the 588MW Beatrice wind farm in the Moray Firth.
Talks to come up with some sort of rescue package are ongoing and are expected to continue well into next week, and the Scottish Government pledged to do whatever it could to break an apparent impasse over “disputed payments” on Tuesday.
With that in mind, Mrs May told MPs at the House of Commons on Wednesday that she had briefly discussed the situation with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier this week and pledged that Westminster would work with Holyrood counterparts to address the issue.
“We stand ready to work with the Scottish Government to ensure that the best result can be achieved,” she said, in response to question from North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins during Prime Minister’s Questions.
The news comes as it emerged that the GMB Scotland and Unite unions have called a march and demonstration in Edinburgh at 11am on Thursday to highlight the BiFab crisis.
BiFab workers are expected to march down the Royal Mile from 10.30am and will hold a rally outside the Scottish Parliament urging the Scottish Government and MSPs of all parties to work together to fight for BiFab’s future.
A spokesperson said: “The BiFab workers have courageously decided to continue to work to complete their current contract, despite having no guarantee that they will be paid.
“Trade unionists are staffing the gates so that equipment and materials cannot be removed from the Methil yard.
“This is a viable workforce and these are viable yards – important strategic assets – ready and able to help deliver the future of Scottish manufacturing.
“Letting these workers and their communities go under is not an option. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with the BiFab workers.”
Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said: “The Cabinet Secretary, Keith Brown, and I have been holding senior level meetings with BiFab, Seaway Heavy Lifting (the installation contractor), SSE, Siemens, Scottish Enterprise and other partners, and we are determined to fully explore all options to save the company – and the jobs that depend upon it and the First Minister is closely engaged on the issues.
“Ministers from both governments are engaged in discussions about how we can work together to achieve a successful outcome for the company and all the staff.
“We are very much aware that this will be a distressing time for the people employed at BiFab, as well as their families and the wider communities of Burntisland, Methil and Arnish, but I want to assure them that the Scottish Government is doing what we can to secure a positive resolution.
“We hope to be able to provide more clarity on the situation in the near future.”
For more, see Thursday’s Courier.
