Unofficial strike at Cammell Laird

WORKERS at Birkenhead-based ship repairers Cammell Laird have staged an unofficial strike after bosses announced redundancies.

More than 100 employees walked out at lunchtime yesterday following after the company told them that staff would lose their jobs following the cancellation of a contract.

It is understood that Cammell Laird wants to make up to 180 staff redundant and it has now been forced to consider its ‘legal options’ following the strike.

The company currently employs around 700 workers and a similar number of sub-contractors at its shipyard in Campbeltown Road.

A spokesman for Cammell Laird said: “As a result of the cancellation of a contract the company was forced to follow a legal procedure for redundancy for the people affected.

“The company has followed the legal consultation to the letter.

“We have further tried to prevent these job losses trying to advance capital projects and bringing in new business in earlier.

“However, we have been unable to do that so some job losses were inevitable.

“Nevertheless, it is extremely disappointing that this unofficial action has taken place. The company is considering its legal options and will advise people involved in due course.”

In January, TheBusinessDesk.com reported that Cammell Laird had won a new contract to lengthen a cable-laying ship operated by Nexans AS of Norway, a subsidiary of the international French cable giant Nexans Group which will secure more than 200 jobs.

And in March, Cammell Laird – which had sales of £90m last year – placed a £1.1m order with the Warrington office of Konecranes to upgrade equipment in its massive shipbuilding hall.

The yard was undertaking the work to prepare for its £44m three-year contract to build the flight decks on aircraft carriers.