Cammell Laird’s chief executive has apologised for claiming striking workers were ‘pandering to negative stereotypes of Merseyside’.
John Syvret’s remarks were published on the Birkenhead shipbuilders’ official website amid ongoing disputes over the potential loss of 291 jobs at the site.
Workers’ unions Unite and GMB are taking industrial action to prevent jobs being axed, which Cammell Laird claims has already cost a £1.5 million contract.
Mr Syvret, who began working at the firm as an apprentice shipbuilder in 1977, withdrew his comments after criticism from union representatives and the Mayor of Liverpool.
Joe Anderson described the Cammell Laird chief’s statement as ‘not helpful’ in attempting to portray striking workers as ‘militant trouble-causers’.
“I apologise to Mr Anderson and anyone else who considered this to be an overly negative point to make,” said Mr Syvret.
“To clarify, all at Cammell Laird simply want and need this industrial action to end in order to allow the company to freely trade.”