Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SCOTLAND
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Tuesday, 11 May, 2004, 15:37 GMT 16:37 UK

Concern over Clyde shipyards

Clyde yard Defence company BAE Systems has come under fire from trade unions for refusing to rule out selling off its shipyards on the Clyde.

Unions fear a sell-off could lead to job losses and jeopardise the revival of shipbuilding in the area.

BAE is considering what to do with the shipyards. Selling some or all of them is one option.

At a meeting in Glasgow on Tuesday, unions were also raising concerns about pay and shift patterns at the yards.

Recently the company said it was "reviewing its options" on the business and would consider selling it. The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions has called on BAE to commit itself publicly to retaining the yards.

It fears a new owner would make cutbacks and any uncertainty over the future could only harm the yards.

Union officials were seeking clarity on BAE's position and raising concerns about pay and shift patterns.

BAE has stressed that it remains optimistic about the flow of work through the yards, though the company's chairman recently warned about overcapacity in the British shipbuilding industry.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Call for shipyard 'deal' answers (10 May 04  |  Scotland )
Shipbuilding workforce pledge (26 Aug 03  |  Scotland )
Deal reached on shipyard future (14 Dec 99  |  Scotland )
'We'll do all we can for Kvaerner' - Blair (07 Jul 99  |  Business )
'Blood and sweat' of the River Clyde (13 Apr 99  |  Business )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
BAE Systems
Ministry of Defence
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©