GMB officers Michael Mulholland, Paul Beattie and Denise Walker on the Harland Wolff platform campaigning for retention of the iconic shipyard and skilled jobs
GMB officials and shop stewards demanding immediate political intervention in the future of the under threat Harland & Wolff shipyard.
Denise Walker our senior organiser led the hundreds of pickets and supporters in shouting out loud to Boris Johnson and his political acolytes to “save our shipyard”.
Hundreds of skilled jobs and hundreds of years of industrial traditional are at risk after the company was put up for sale in December. One buyer has offered a cut price deal but without TUPE which would meant ditching current staff. Fortunately the current owners have rejected that approach and have met with the administrators who earlier this week agreed with the joint unions request for more time.
GMB shop steward Paul Beattie pictured in the yellow vest gave the news of the breathing space provided by the talks. However he highlighted how essential it is for politicians in Northern Ireland to demand nationalisation of the yard and for new commissioned shipyard and engineering-work from the UK government.
All the GMB staff closed the office and headed to the iconic workplace gates overlooked by the giant yellow cranes Samson and Goliath which are a massive part of the Belfast skyline. They provided food and drinks to the pickets as well as solidarity along with hundreds of other trade unionists and a healthy media presence.
Paul McCarthy Regional Secretary and Tim Roache National Secretary are heading to Belfast to offer their support for fight for the yard and jobs.
