Cal Mac has highlighted it is a large employer in the Western Isles amid a row for the company to locate jobs in the islands.
The ferry firm hires islanders to work on its vessels across the fleet in addition to ticket office staff.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar sparked the row by calling for some Cal Mac jobs to be located in the Western Isles after the ferry company advertised for three computer and positions at salaries over £60,000.
Cllr Uisdean Robertson said: "There is no obvious reason why these posts and similar positions could not be located in the Western Isles, amongst the communities which Cal Mac serve.
“The impact of these salaries in the Western Isles would be much greater on the local
economy than they are in the central belt and I would call on Cal-
“Not only would such a move be an economic boost but it would also demonstrate Cal-
But Cal Mac points out it already hires a large number of islanders as well as putting many Hebrideans through training for well paid roles.
A CalMac spokesman said: “With more than 1400 employees CalMac is one of the biggest employers in the area we serve.
“We are also one of the main employers of apprentices and our cadetship scheme also has at least 45 cadets in training at any given time, many of these from the Western Isles.
“The company runs a network that stretches 200 miles across the west coast and while our services serve the Western Isles we also serve many routes in the Firth of Clyde.
“We need to spread the benefits of employment and also of procurement of goods and services across the vast geographic area we serve and we will continue to strive to ensure all communities benefit fairly.”
Cal Mac is large employer in Western Isles
25 January 2018
