MSP wants NorthLink jobs to stay
MSP Tavish Scott met NorthLink’s chairman and chief executive this week to make the case for company jobs to remain in Shetland.
NorthLink is moving its finance function to the Clyde but is keeping a financial controller and accountant in Aberdeen.
Mr Scott is asking NorthLink to reconsider its plans and to look at other support functions which could be moved to Shetland rather than losing jobs out the south mouth.
He said: “NorthLink should keep these finance jobs in Shetland. I don’t understand the logic of moving the post of financial controller and accountant to Aberdeen. Four out of five of the NorthLink ships call into Lerwick as part of the Northern isles services, as many as call into Aberdeen.
“Finance is a core function – everything from paying the bills and invoices to keeping the accounts – but the function is largely carried out by post or BACS transfer. In this modern world of instant communication I am at a loss to understand why NorthLink wants these jobs done in Gourock or Aberdeen when the work can be done just as effectively and efficiently in Lerwick.”
On the movement of jobs to the Clyde, Mr Scott said the Scottish Government needed to explain how a future tendering for the Northern Isles ferry service could be done if many of the core functions of the ompany were allowed to be made part of the wider Calmac company that served the west coast of Scotland as well.”
He argued that, instead of taking jobs away from Shetland, there was scope to bring jobs north.
“Rather than taking jobs away, NorthLink could become more efficient by looking to Shetland for such services.”
