ANOTHER Wirral MP has pledged support to shipyard workers who are striking to save their jobs at Cammell Laird.

Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood visited the picket line to stand with workers after plans to cut 291 jobs were revealed in October.

This news came as the company won two Government contracts worth £619 million to maintain Royal Navy ships.

Members of the GMB and Unite unions believe that the job cuts are 'unnecessary' and are an effort by Cammell Laird to 'further casualise the workforce.'

It was revealed on Friday that Unite will be extending walk-outs at the site until January 18 as a result of bosses continuing to move ahead with the redundancies.

Ms Greenwood told the Globe: "It is shocking that over 290 redundancies are planned when Cammell Laird has recently secured contracts worth £619 million.

"Some of the workers affected who I met on the picket line have worked at Cammell Laird for over ten years.

"There are real fears that these workers will be replaced by agency workers on poor terms and conditions.

"We cannot afford to see a race to the bottom when it comes to employment.

"I urge the management at Cammell Laird to sit down with the unions and with government and come up with a plan to save these jobs.”

Last week Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also pledged to stand by the workforce.

He said: "Solidarity with Unite and GMB members at Cammell Laird shipyard.

"They're starting three weeks of industrial action to save their jobs as bosses undermine skilled workers and job security.

"Labour stands with you."

However Cammell Laird boss John Syvret CBE called the strike action 'counterproductive' which only 'undermines our (Cammell Laird's) ability to create jobs and work.'

He also rejected claims that the company is moving towards casualisation - meaning the workforce contract changes from a worker employed on a permanent basis to someone on a short-term temporary basis.

Mr Syvret said: "We reject the misinformed claim that we are moving toward casualisation, the simple fact is that we are in a contract driven industry and, following a period of peak work, we are seeing contracts come to an end.

"The TU claim of casualising our workforce when we have never even considered zero hours contracts and have restarted one of the biggest apprentice training programmes in Britain with investment of more than £18 million in 250 apprentices which underpins our commitment to our workforce and local communities.

"Moreover, we have consistently grown our core workforce beyond the projections given to the trade union over the last circa 10 years.

"We have been transparent with the unions and our workforce sharing our ambition and diversification strategy with its intent being to maximise growth and opportunity for all."