Press Release
4th February 2005

Withdraw Cal Mac Tender Notice – McNeil
MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, is calling for the withdrawal of the invitation to tender for the Caledonian MacBrayne Gourock–Dunoon service until assurances around the workforce’s terms and conditions are given.

Mr McNeil, in whose constituency Cal Mac’s headquarters are based, says he was shocked by the surprise announcement, which came less than 24 hours after many MSPs had joined a lobby of Parliament organised by the STUC.

Mr McNeil said:

“We can’t sell this professional, skilled workforce down the river.

“I share the workforce’s concerns over their terms and conditions and, in the absence of proper assurances, I refused to vote in favour of the tendering process when it came before the Parliament in December.  

“Since this defeat, the Minister has been in intense discussions with Labour backbenchers and, I understand, the European Commissioner and I was under the impression that progress was being made.

“The Minister would be well advised, therefore, to pull this tendering notice or, at the very least, undertake not to allow the tendering process to begin until these vital workforce protection issues are sorted out.”
ENDS

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