There are no plans to ditch the Arnish yard in a potential takeover deal of BiFab, union leaders have been assured.
Talks are in progress with potential new investors who the Lewis workforce fear are not interested in the Arnish manufacturing facility.
A number of island workers will be transferred to Fife for the remainder of the present contract it is proposed.
Union leaders say they had a “positive” meeting with the company over the future of its yards in Methil and Burntisland in Fife as well as in the Western Isles.
Alan Ritchie of engineering union GMB Scotland and Rob McGregor of Unite held discussions with BiFab managing director Martin Adam yesterday.
The Scottish Government rescued the firm from brink of administration with a £15 million pledge in November but now its order book is empty and its sole contract of 26 turbine foundations for the Beatrice offshore wind scheme will end within weeks.
A financial dispute over a supply of steel -
Legal action lodged by German steel supplier EEW Group is due to be suspended for six months which would allow both parties time to thrash out a mutual agreement.
The Arnish facility is set to shut soon with the majority of the workforce paid off and its very last unit already completed.
Alan Ritchie said they received “assurances any deal over BiFab would include the three yards. That includes Arnish.
“They assured the trade unions that the yards are all important and complement each other in the Bfab setting.”
Mr Ritchie added: “We don’t want Arnish mothballed and management agreed to do all they possibly can to keep it as a functioning yard.”
The union official highlighted that even with a fresh injection of cash what is desperately needed is for BiFab to win orders and create employment.
They were told that “commercial talks” are ongoing with a potential investor but management were duty bound not to comment and “nothing definite or guaranteed” said Mr Ritchie.
He stressed: “The focus is to get contracts and work into the yard.
“Even if a new investor joins that will not alleviate the problem with the work load.”
Canadian-
A delegation of the Canadians visited the Methil yard.
A Chinese firm is also said to be interested.
BiFab plans to stick with Arnish
1 February 2018