Shipbuilding Union Condemns Possibility Of Foreign Manufacture

The union for shipbuilding, GMB, has today announced that the UK government’s decision to open up the manufacture of three new RFA vessels to international tender “undermines the national interest”.

The Government made the decision to offer the contracts to international companies, rather than keeping them solely for UK shipyards.

Glasgow South West MP Christopher Stephens asked the Ministry of Defence to clarify their position.

Defence minister Harrier Baldwin replied ‘ships should be subject to open competition'.

However, GMB maintains that all Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels should be built in UK shipyards.

The GMB National Secretary said in a statement:

“The RFA contracts are the key to unlocking the country’s massive shipbuilding potential and transforming the fortunes of our shipbuilding communities.

 “The RFA vessels will support and serve our Royal Navy and we have the capacity and skills base to deliver their manufacture while generating hundreds of millions of pounds worth of wages for the UK economy.”