SAFETY FEARS OVER PRIVATISATION AT FASLANE

Scottish CND expressed concern that safety at the Faslane nuclear base could be further compromised if the MoD goes ahead and privatises work at the site.

2000 workers at Faslane were meeting on Tuesday 12 December to discuss their response to the plans. Jack Dromey, national organiser of the Transport and General Workers Union said: "If ministers rush to judgment in favour of privatisation, then a wronged workforce will have every right to take industrial action."

The company who operate Rosyth dockyard, Babcocks, are likely to take over the work. They expect to sign a contract in 2001 and assume control in 2002.

This latest development comes after a series of problems with the nuclear submarine fleet. There have been two occasions when nuclear submarines have crashed into the seabed within the last month. On 19 November HMS Triumph hit the sand when submerged in international waters off the West coast of Scotland. At the end of November the Trident submarine HMS Victorious ran aground on Skelmorlie Bank in the Clyde estuary - the submarine had been sailing on the surface in bad weather at the time.

Also, the Navy have admitted that there are two serious faults with submarine reactors. In September they announced that a problem had been found on HMS Sceptre, HMS Sovereign and HMS Superb. Then in November they admitted that a different fault had been found in the reactors of seven of the twelve "hunter-killer" submarines. This second fault has resulted in HMS Tireless being stranded in Gibraltar since May.

"We are concerned that if private contractors take over this work they will cut corners and safety will be compromised." Said Tony Southall, Joint Secretary of Scottish CND

Scottish CND want Trident to be scrapped. We also feel that the government should be acting now to prepare plans for alternative employment and economic strategies for the area around Faslane.

12 December 2000