UNITE the union has secured a promise of help from the Scottish Government over massive job cuts at Doosan Babcock in Renfrew.

On Wednesday, December 14 the union met with Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Keith Brown MSP, alongside representatives of Doosan Babcock, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE).

At the meeting, Unite secured an extension of the consultation period over plans to cut around 270 staff at Doosan Babcock’s offices and manufacturing facility in Renfrew.

And the minister pledged to look at how Scottish Government agencies could help. Another meeting with him will take place in the middle of January.

Unite regional officer Alison MacLean said: “This was a constructive meeting and all the different parties involved have committed to further discussion.

“We were pleased to be able to secure an extension of the consultation period until the end of January. That was a reasonable request, given the difficulty of having meaningful consultation over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“Importantly, it also gives the Scottish Government agencies a chance to look at the situation and consider ways they can help. We look forward to meeting with the minister again to discuss ways forward.

“We were pleased that the minister and Doosan Babcock gave a commitment to explore opportunities to protect jobs, including upskilling and retraining of workers with additional support from PACE.

“We will be seeking to have another separate meeting with Doosan Babcock early in the New Year and we will continue to explore every avenue to protect the jobs of our members.”