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The Cammell Laird strike has been suspended for crucial talks about the Birkenhead shipyard's future involving the Government, unions and yard bosses.

In a joint statement today, Cammell Laird and the Unite and GMB trade unions said they had agreed to suspend both planned redundancies and the resulting industrial action to give a "four week breathing space".

Today's news follows talks facilitated by Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, who has now founded a new "taskforce" to try to ensure the yard can win new work to save jobs.

The strike action was sparked after Cammell Laird announced plans to axe almost 300 jobs at the Birkenhead yard, blaming a gap in its order book.

The news came despite the yard winning a set of £619m naval contracts bosses said would secure the yard's future.

Yard bosses said that work on the RRS Sir David Attenborough - formerly known as Boaty McBoatface - was coming to an end and the new Royal Fleet Auxiliary work would not start until March.

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Announcing ten weeks of industrial action, leaders of the Unite and GMB unions said the job cuts were unnecessary.



They said they were worried about possible "casualisation" of the yard's workforce if permanent staff were lost and work then done by agency staff.

But Cammell Laird rejected the casualisation claim, insisting it was investing in the yard and in apprenticeships.

The yard also said many workers and local people were opposed to the strike and said the industrial action was already costing it business.

The strike was backed by football fans this weekend. Supportive banners were displayed by fans at the Merseyside derby at Anfield and by fans at Tranmere and Southport's FA Cup tie, while collections were held at both games.

In a joint statement today, Cammell Laird, Unite and the GMB said: "Following constructive discussions between the trade unions and Cammell Laird, facilitated by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, an agreement has been reached to suspend both current industrial action and the notice of redundancy due to be issued on December 10, 2018, to 291 workers in the Birkenhead shipyard.

"This agreement provides for a four week breathing space and paves the way for the establishment of a joint taskforce by the Mayor to involve; Unite and the GMB trade unions, Cammell Laird, Merseyside local authorities and central government departments alongside Cammell Laird customers.

"The agreement recognises the need for the yard to remain competitive in bidding for new and future work and all parties agree to work together to ensure this remains the case.

"The task-force will meet for the first time today in an effort to formulate an action plan that secures the future for the yard and its workforce.

"All parties agree that Cammell Laird has a positive future and that short term measures are required to address immediate problems of work flow into the yard.

"The task-force will examine every opportunity to bring forward work scheduled for later in 2019 while seeking new work orders and financial assistance for a major up-skilling programme to ensure the skills necessary to compete in a highly competitive market are available from within the local community.

"All parties commit to working constructively and positively during this period to bring about a long-term solution to the current difficulties experienced and remain committed to working together to secure a positive future for a world class shipyard employing a highly skilled workforce from within the local community."

The news has also been welcomed by local political leaders.

In a joint statement, Mayor Anderson, Wirral council leader Phil Davies, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Ian Maher, city region cabinet member for skills, said: "The taskforce recognises Cammell Laird’s proud history and its role in the Liverpool City Region’s maritime and manufacturing sectors.

"The staff and workforce are also recognised for their skills and dedication towards the company which is a household name across Liverpool City Region. This is an important company locally but we should not forget that this is also a strategically important industry for the whole of the UK.

"The taskforce recognises the complexity of the situation and that all parties are acting in good faith. The taskforce also wishes to thank both sides for their determination to work on solutions to benefit all in the city region.

"The Cammell Laird Taskforce has been established after a meeting with Government ministers as a partnership effort between local councils, the combined authority, government, Cammell Laird and trades unions to explore options to assist the shipyard with its place in a global competitive marketplace, and in anticipation of existing planned work from the Ministry of Defence, which will secure the shipyard with increased future employment levels.

"The Taskforce will include representatives of all partners to develop proposals for consideration by Cammell Laird and its staff."