2 October, 2019After workers occupied the shipyard for nine weeks, Harland and Wolff in Belfast has been bought by a British company, saving it from closure and securing the workers’ future.
The shipyard in Northern Ireland that built the Titanic, Harland and Wolff, has been saved with investment and a programme of future work to follow, by UK company InfraStrata.
Harland and Wolff went into administration on 6 August, putting 120 jobs at risk after the Norwegian parent company had collapsed. In an attempt to prevent speculators and asset strippers from taking over the shipyard, the workers occupied the yard. The occupation of the shipyard lasted for nine weeks.
While the workers are still technically employed, they have not been paid for weeks. IndustriALL affiliates Unite the Union and GMB have ensured the continuation of employment contracts and the workers are expected to return to work in the coming days.
IndustriALL, general secretary Valter Sanches, says:
"The shipyard workers fought back to save their jobs and won a landmark victory.
During their struggle, IndustriALL publicly expressed full support and solidarity with the workers, we now congratulate them and applaud this demonstration of what organized workers can achieve."