DUNDEE (Sputnik), Mark Hirst – The GMB Scotland trade union, representing workers at the Faslane nuclear submarine base, where the Trident subs are stationed, has prepared a motion to urge the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) to reverse its opposition to Trident and back its renewal.
"The GMB has every right to be concerned about their members but what we would be saying is work with us at looking at developing plans for diversification. We are concerned about the jobs and what happens to those jobs if Trident goes, but their skills can be used in other ways," West added.
The CND chairman said GMB members were right to highlight the potential threat to their members but urged them to work with other trade unions to identify alternative ways in which the workers could retain employment.
"It’s very welcome that the First Minister has reaffirmed Scottish National Party (SNP) opposition to Trident," West said.
The STUC is expected later to debate the GMB motion calling on backing Trident.
The Trident system is deployed at the UK Royal Navy’s Faslane naval base, which is the United Kingdom’s only facility capable of hosting the four Vanguard-class ballistic missile-equipped submarines. The total cost of the renewal of Trident is estimated at as much as $240 billion.
