Prospect is calling on the UK government to urgently review its decisions on contracts for Fleet Solid Support Ships and Type 31e frigates which could provide the work essential to deliver long-term security for Rosyth and its workforce.  

Jane Rose, Prospect negotiatior said: “It is absolutely vital that the MoD places these orders with UK yards as a matter of urgency or the promised drumbeat of ship launches will be replaced by a lament for lost skills and our sovereign capability.”

Richard Hardy, Prospect national secretary in Scotland, added: “We’ve been campaigning for some time for the Westminster government to move ahead with the orders for Fleet Solid Support vessels and Type 31e Frigates so that Rosyth and other yards across the UK can have certainty about workloads.

“Today’s announcement is a kick in the teeth to the highly skilled and committed workforce who only recently delivered the magnificent HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier.

"The UK will lose the expertise it has built up in modular build and joint working if redundancies like this continue. 

“The  decision to put the contract for the Fleet Solid Support ships, which will support and replenish the carriers, out to international tender must be reviewed and a proper commitment given by the UK government to its own National Shipbuilding Strategy.

“Prospect will be working hard with our reps, members and management to try and mitigate the losses, and as always we’ll seek to avoid compulsory redundancies.

"There is no escaping the fact that our members are angry at further job cuts and the UK government needs to step up to the plate to protect the highly skilled and dedicated workforce at Rosyth.”