Scottish trade unions have been asked to adopt a ‘unified sense of hope’ over the situation at Burntisland Fabrication (BiFab) as the Scottish Government heads into negotiations to save the troubled firm.
An agreement between the government and the unions to remain optimistic suggests there might be a potential deal on the table, but neither Unite the Union or GMB would confirm any new contracts yesterday.
A spokesman for Unite said: “We’re staying hopeful there are investors waiting in the wings. The Scottish Government have asked us to be positive and we’ll go along with that.”
GMB added it was “hopeful” of a deal and argued workers were “satisfied” with the way economy secretary Keith Brown was handling the situation.
BiFab, which employs around 1,400 workers, was saved from administration last year by the Scottish Government issuing a loan of £15million to ensure they could meet their commercial commitments and meet contract deadlines.
The Fife-based engineering firm has three yards in Scotland, with its Arnish yard in Lewis under particular strain due to the ending of renewables contracts.
Until recently, BiFab had been working on significant contracts in the outer Moray Firth and a multi-million agreement with the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm.
Mr Brown said: “We have a shared aim of solving the BiFab issue as soon as possible.
“This is an anxious time for the workers at BiFab and their families. They have continued throughout this time to show great resilience and a commitment to fulfilling the contracts in place, in spite of what they have been facing.
“I will remain in regular contact with the unions and the company, while we work tirelessly together to offer support for those workers and try to identify a long-term resolution.”
GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith added: “We believe the Scottish Government shares these priorities and they are doing all they can to deliver this objective, as they have done since November.
“We are now at a crucial moment and we have stressed to ministers the anxieties of our members.”