UK : Wildcat strike by aircraft carrier workers at Rosyth
WORKERS on the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier in Rosyth walked out in a wildcat strike this morning.
The unofficial action at the dockyard saw them down tools,
apparently over a blacklisting row.
A source told the Press: "The workers have cabined up and the issue is about the employers not allowing a certain person onto the site.
"It's been ongoing for a while. Hundreds have taken action and say they won't go back to work until this is resolved."
The aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are the largest warships ever made with final assembly taking place at Rosyth.
The ships, costing more than £6 billion, are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a partnership between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the Ministry of Defence.
A statement said: "The Aircraft Carrier Alliance is aware that a group of employees working for one of our sub-contractors has not commenced work today.
"Whilst this is not impacting the overall programme schedule, it is not official action and we expect our sub-contractor to resolve the situation with the support of its trade union representatives in due course."
The Press contacted the Unite union but they did not want to make a comment at this time.
Construction began in 2009 and the carriers project is now nearing the end.
HMS Queen Elizabeth was completed and named by Her Majesty the Queen in July 2014 and the final section of HMS Prince of Wales was lowered into place in June.
Its propulsion and mission systems are now being fitted and tested ahead of harbour trials in Rosyth.