Unite criticises Lib Dem MP over aircraft carrier contract
1st July 2009
Unite the union reacted with dismay after yesterday's
‘predictable’ responses to the future of the MoD aircraft carrier
contract after a leaked document suggested a £1 billion hike in
cost to build the two vessels.
The ranks of the ill-informed, including Willie Rennie MP who
claimed that Labour is ‘busting the bank’, responded after a leak
emanating from lead contractors for the construction of the two
aircraft carriers.
Alliance Management Board (AMB), suggested the possibility of
400-500 redundancies after the projected cost rose from £4 billion
to £5 billion over the last year.
However Unite, which has substantial membership at both the
Rosyth and Clydeside yards that will undertake work on a
significant bulk of the contract, have hit back suggesting that the
likes of the Lib Dem member for Dunfermline & West Fife have
missed the point completely.
Unite national officer for aerospace and shipbuilding, Bernie
Hamilton said: “When will these people realise that AMB’s ‘leak’ is
designed to do one thing and one thing only and that is to force
the government to agree to the increase in costs wanted by the
employers (Carrier Alliance) for the extension to the in-service
dates.
"Those of us actually involved in the industry understood that
the agreement to extend the build programme, to create a better
payment schedule for the government, would come at an increased
cost.
"Predictably employers know only one way to force a Labour
government into meeting their demands on costs and that is to
publicly threaten hard working families and their future
employment.
"Mr Rennie and others have bought this leak hook, line and
sinker and in their desperate efforts to make themselves look
relevant to the electorate they have shown themselves to be
political novices."
ENDS
Notes to Editors: For further information contact Unite
national officer for aerospace & shipbuilding Bernie Hamilton
on 07958624664 or Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
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