As Monday deadline approaches, NI political representatives must step up 

Workers to be joined by families and trade unions outside City Hall at 12.45 tomorrow

August 1st: Unite, which represents workers in the troubled Harland and Wolff shipyard, today warned that rumours claiming Monaco-based vulture investor Michael Flacks is preparing to invest in the yard should be taken with a grain of salt until a confirmed offer is received, and urged Northern Ireland political representatives to step up to resolve the situation as the clock ticks down to Monday’s deadline.

Commenting, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer Susan Fitzgerald said:

“In the absence of cold hard cash on the table, Mr Flacks’ reported statements smack more of publicity hunting than a serious attempt to save Harland and Wolff. The workers certainly have no faith in the rumours, and nor should Northern Ireland’s political representatives.

“As the clock ticks down to Monday, when the yard is due to go into administration, any NI parties which have influence on the Tory government should be prepared to kick down doors in Westminster to save the yard, to save jobs, and to save Northern Ireland’s skillbase going forward.

“Support for the workers across Northern Ireland is growing.  The strength of public feeling will become apparent tomorrow at 12.45 pm, when Harland and Wolff workers and their families will be joined by trade unionists from across Northern Ireland outside City Hall in advance of the special Belfast City Council meeting being held to discuss the crisis”, Ms Fitzgerald concluded.