SCOTLAND'S deputy First Minister has pledged to “leave no stone unturned” to secure a future for the workers at risk of losing their jobs at bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis.
Kate Forbes, who is also the Economy Secretary, said the Scottish Government would “explore every avenue” to save the 400 jobs at risk of redundancy.
Up to 400 jobs have been put at risk after the manufacturer announced plans to move operations in Falkirk and Larbert to a single site in Scarborough in North Yorkshire.
It comes after more than 400 jobs were lost at the nearby Grangemouth refinery.
Forbes said ministers at Holyrood first spoke with the firm about the proposals on May 25, and said she believed the UK Government did so at that time too.
She insisted she was “determined” to find an alternative to job cuts at the Falkirk and Larbert factories.
Opposition parties accused the Scottish Government of having done nothing, despite the company warning a year ago that it may cut jobs in Scotland.
Vowing to “leave no stone unturned”, Forbes said in a statement to the Scottish Parliament: “We are determined to help the business find an alternative to that route and to find different ways to meet market challenges through investment and improved performance.
“A key part of that is the ability of Alexander Dennis to secure future orders, and that is why we are working closely with the company to identify and secure a forward pipeline of demand for high quality buses from Scottish and UK customers.”
She said securing a pipeline for bus orders in Scotland was “key” to securing the future of the sector in Scotland.
She added: “We will work in close collaboration with the company, with trade unions and the UK Government to find practical solutions.
“We are not going to play politics with the situation.
“We will continue to explore every avenue to avoid job losses.”
Unite union Scottish secretary Derek Thomson said: “Unite has held positive and constructive meetings with the Deputy First Minister to explore all options which can keep the Alexander Dennis sites open in Falkirk and Larbert.
“We welcome the Scottish Government actively working with the trade unions to find solutions to the threat of 400 highly skilled jobs being lost.
“It is our firm belief that there are pathways to retaining a manufacturing presence at the sites.”
