Scottish Labour’s new policy stance against Trident is “based on Alice-in-Wonderland politics promising pie-in-the-sky alternative jobs” for workers, a union chief has said.
Gary Smith, acting Scotland secretary for the GMB union, pledged it would “stand up” for defence workers, such as those at Faslane on the Clyde where the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet is based.
It comes after the Scottish Labour conference in Perth overwhelmingly voted against renewing the Trident nuclear weapon system, putting policy north of the border at odds with the UK party’s stance.
The vote also means UK leader Jeremy Corbyn and Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale have different views on the controversial issue from each other and from their own parties.
While Labour’s position continues to be to support the continuation of Trident, Mr Corbyn is firmly against nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Ms Dugdale, who supports multilateral disarmament, watched as a motion opposing the renewal of nuclear weapons won just over 70% of the vote at the conference.
In the run-up to the debate, the GMB had written to members working in the defence sector, saying its police was to support Trident renewal.
“We have members in Scotland, Barrow-in-Furness and Plymouth who have a direct interest in the future of Trident,” it said.
Mr Smith said today: “GMB Scotland members in defence-related jobs are very disappointed with the vote by the Scottish Labour Party conference against Trident renewal.
“It is based on Alice-in-Wonderland politics promising pie-in-the-sky alternative jobs for workers who are vital to our national security.”
He added: “GMB Scotland will not play politics on this and will stand up for our defence workers and their communities’ right across the UK.
“We are heartened with the level of support from constituency delegates for these workers shown during the debate and are grateful for that support.”
The Trident debate divided Labour activists, trade unions and politicians at the conference.
Pat Rafferty, Scottish secretary of the Unite union, backed the calls for the nuclear weapons not to be renewed – but stressed this must go “hand in hand” with efforts to support workers into new jobs.
He said: “The argument for non-renewal must go hand in hand with a guarantee that positions, jobs and skills sustained by the current system must be supported by the creation of defence diversification agencies at Scottish and UK level.
“Until we see some commitments to this, as stated in the motion, then trade unions will continue to support the continuity of employment of our members.”
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, whose constituency includes the Faslane base, said some 13,000 jobs could be under threat if Trident is scrapped.
She said: “Faslane is the biggest single-site employer in Scotland. More than a quarter of West Dunbartonshire’s full-time workforce are employed there in good quality, well-paid jobs.”
Ms Baillie later put out a statement from the shop stewards at Faslane and Coulport which said they were “mystified” that Unite and others had ensured Trident was not debated at the UK Labour conference and “that only a matter of weeks later Unite not only deemed it necessary to debate this non-devolved issue but has adopted a position that we believe threatens the future of our members’ jobs.”
The shop stewards, who represent Unite and GMB workers, said: “Unite policy clearly states that there is a need to preserve the jobs and skills of members and until Unite receives firm commitments to this end it will continue to support our members and their employment.
“We do not believe that such a commitment was delivered before the debate at Scottish Labour Party Conference. There is no credible diversification plan in place that will replicate the quantity and quality of jobs that currently exist.”
They added diversification “didn’t produce anything of note in the 1980s or the 1990s” and claimed it is “extremely unlikely to produce anything worthwhile in the future”.
The statement continued: “Those that choose to perpetuate the myth of diversification would be as well telling us to apply for jobs in Brigadoon. This utopian land of employment that these people would have us believe exists is no more than a jobs mirage.
“We are dismayed and angered by Unite Scotland’s position. It is not supportive of our membership and members have expressed the feeling this morning that their union is treating them like mugs by taking their union subscriptions and failing to support their future livelihoods.”