Report to the People
A Ten-Year Future for Shipbuilding on the Clyde
Given the relentless decline of the shipbuilding industry over the last two decades, is it any wonder that we are more able to respond to bad news than to good.
The importance of work to our social wellbeing is often better expressed by outsiders. One such outsider was Stanley Spencer, war artist, who came to Lithgows shipyard to record the contribution of the shipbuilding workers to the war effort.
I was able to attend an exhibition of his paintings entitled "Men of the Clyde" in the National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, recently.
They were all there. The "Frame Squad"; the "Burners"; the "Welders"; the "Riggers". Putting aside the noise, dirt and grime, the artist elevated the human endeavour and the collective spirit of the shipyard workers through the bright light of the burning torches and the welders arc.
I left the exhibition with a sense of pride in what we were and what we could be and a sense of regret at what we have lost.
So with the ups and downs at Fergusons and the uncertainty at Govan, when the news came confirming the order for the Type 45 destroyers along with Government statements in regard to the importance of the industry to our manufacturing base, the use of defence contracts to ensure a sustainable future for the industry, a shipbuilding conference bringing together the Government, the employers and the unions. This long overdue recognition is welcome and a cause for celebration. I am more hopeful given this positive new approach that we can build on the success of our highly efficient shipyards of today and be more able to tackle issues like unfair foreign competition.
My only regret was that only days before the announcement, I had been informed of the death of Stuart Crawford, a real man of the Clyde, who lost his battle with cancer. The 51 year old union convener at Yarrows had campaigned all of his working life on the importance of the industry to our communities and our economy.
I am confident that he would have been celebrating with us, a change in direction by Government which is really good news for the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde.
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