Cammell Laird Shipyard announces 178 job cuts in ‘sickening blow’

These shipbuilders worked through the pandemic and bosses have rewarded them by slashing 178 jobs

Cammell Laird shipbuilders worked through the pandemic to keep the yard afloat and bosses have rewarded them by slashing almost 180 jobs

GMB, the union for shipbuilders, says almost 178 job cuts announced by Cammell Laird ship yard in Birkenhead is a ‘sickening blow’.

The yard currently has a workforce of around 700. Despite there being a job retention scheme in place at the yard, GMB was not consulted about the redundancies and has not been informed about the business case behind the decision.

The workforce were briefed by management that the redundancies are part of a restructure of the business.

If the decision to make the redundancies is due to a temporary downturn in work as a result of the pandemic, GMB will tell Cammell Laird it should be furloughing workers to avoid job losses - while the Government must do more to support the UK’s shipbuilding industry.

Albie McGuigan, GMB Regional Organiser, said:

“Cammell Laird shipbuilders have worked through the pandemic, risking their lives to keep the yard afloat.

“Bosses have rewarded them by slashing almost 180 jobs. It’s sickening.

"GMB has long campaigned to save the UK’s proud shipbuilding heritage and for Government defence spending to support the domestic shipyards.

“Cammell Laird bosses must explain themselves, but Ministers must not be allowed to ignore hundreds more shipbuilding jobs going to the wall.”