Prospect welcomes Longannet task force

Prospect union welcomes Longannet task force

Prospect, which represents professional, engineering and technical staff at the threatened Longannet power station, has praised the work of the new taskforce chaired by energy minister Fergus Ewing.



The taskforce was created after last week’s announcement that Longannet would cease generating on March 31, 2016 with closure following almost immediately.

The first meeting agreed the taskforce’s remit which will be to:

  • support individuals employed at the site and maximise opportunities to secure alternative employment
  • support the communities that will be affected by the closure
  • mitigate the effects on the supply chain
  • produce a plan for the long-term future of the site which maximises its employment potential, and
  • identify how to create sustainable employment in the long term, bearing in mind the local economic infrastructure.

Prospect negotiator Richard Hardy said: “We have been working with the Scottish government, Scottish Power and Fife council for many months. Everyone engaged positively at the first meeting yesterday.

“Although the taskforce will not be able to reverse the closure decision, we hope it will provide additional support and help to our members as they look for new employment.

“We also hope it will help create good-quality jobs that use our members’ skills and training which are second to none.”

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