Scotland faces an exodus of skilled jobs if the country’s manufacturing industry is allowed to decline without government support, a union chief has warned.
Derek Thomson, Scottish Regional Secretary at Unite, wants to see “transitional stakes” bought in key businesses to allow them to bring in new technologies while protecting jobs.
Such a scheme would allow for the UK or Scottish Government to invest directly without the need for full nationalisation of firms.
He said the alternative was a “skills exodus” with Scots workers lured to jobs down south or abroad as opportunities dried up at home.
It comes at a time the country’s industrial future is at a crossroads with the imminent closure of the oil refinery at Grangemouth, with the loss of more than 400 highly-skilled jobs.
There is also uncertainty over the future of two fabrication yards in Methil and Arnish after owners Harland & Wolff were placed in administration for the second time in five years.
Thomson told the Record he still believed the refinery at Grangemouth could remain open with the right government support in place.
“We are of the opinion that investment could extend the lifetime of the refinery,” he said. “And one of the things we are starting to explore is the idea of the government taking a transitional stake, and what a transitional stake could look like for other areas.
“It’s a long-term investment to a greener economy with sustainable jobs.”
Unite is one of two unions representing workers at Grangemouth and has made clear its anger with both SNP and Labour ministers over what it views as their passive reaction to the closure announcement.
Thomson said both UK and Scottish ministers had “parroted” what refinery owners Petroineos had told them.
“I think they thought this was just going to go away,” he added. “It’s done and we can’t do anything about it. But we’re not going to let them away with that.
“It’s not going to be business as usual for politicians who fail to step up and support workers, particularly during this period of just transition.
“We have the 2026 parliamentary election coming up and we will be pushing hard for commitments in the run-up to that.”
Thomson added: “This is where the idea of a transitional stake comes in. What funding can we use to ensure those gaps can be bridged?
“We hear about the just transition, that we’re going to do everything we possibly can to save workers, and make sure they won’t be out of a job as we move towards a greener future.
“We’ve just had the first test of it. We had opportunities for the government to step in and they just point-blank refused.”
Unite plans to step up its Keep Grangemouth Working campaign to ensure the future of the site remains at the top of the political agenda.
“Our campaign is not just about the refinery, it’s about keeping Grangemouth working as an industrial hub,” Thomson added.
“The infrastructure is already there. It’s got the port. It’s a high skills area. Lots of things can be done there.
“It could be, with the right work, a green industrial hub. The Keep Grangemouth Working campaign still matters. Even with the refinery possibly reducing in headcount, the place still has to have a future.”
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