BIRKENHEAD's MP is urging Cammell Laird bosses "to get back round the table with the unions" in a bid to avoid planned job cuts.

Last week, the company began consultation on plans to axe more than 170 jobs after a business review showed it was "enduring downturn of workload and employing too many people" adding that "currently the business is inefficient and uncompetitive".

In all, 178 posts across the business are to go. A number of the senior management team have already departed.

The town's MP Mick Whitley expressed disappointment over the "sudden announcement" of redundancies. He has also questioned the management’s claim that the job cuts were about "modernising" the operation of the plant.

He referred to a situation in 2018, when job cuts were proposed and the workforce stood firm with a series of strikes and other forms of action.

It resulted in an agreement that recognised the need for the yard to "remain competitive in bidding for new and future work".

That agreement ensured effective collaboration between Unite the Union, the GMB union and the management and they subsequently worked well together to modernise the yards and bring in work.

Urging Laird's bosses to get back round the table and to avoid compulsory redundancies, Mr Whitley added: "If the company needs to make a headcount reduction then it could have been discussed with the trade unions and, in the spirit of the 2018 agreement, undertaken through a properly negotiated voluntary redundancy scheme.

"But suddenly announcing the job cuts with the possibility of compulsory redundancies feels like the management are treating it as a poker game and decided to go all in at once.

"I am appealing to them to get back round the table with the unions, develop a plan that avoids compulsory redundancies, maintains the excellent apprenticeship scheme and puts Lairds in pole position to win the forthcoming defence contracts and others."

To further the case for this Mick is tabling an Early Day Motion on Cammell Lairds and is winning support for it in Parliament.

As well as calling for the management to think again Mick stressed the importance of government financial support to be offered now so that vital jobs are saved.

He added: "Unless the Government acts to support jobs in my constituency then its claim to be levelling up is little more than an advertising jingle designed to make Boris Johnson look like he cares when in reality he is happy to leave towns like mine miles behind."

It is hoped many of the job losses will be achieved by voluntary redundancies.

David McGinley, chief executive of Cammell Laird Shiprepairers said last Friday: "The business needs to modernise and develop processes, procedures, and governance, which will make the business fit for the future.

"The new management team is absolutely committed to bringing about the essential changes that will ensure Cammell Laird is able to meet the demand of current and future customers.

"By conducting this HR1 process now, we will secure the employment of the remaining workforce. Equally, we can support the many hundreds of jobs which exist in our supply chain.

"Just as importantly, we can continue to develop our award-winning apprenticeship scheme, and offer vital opportunities to local young people and adult apprentices, helping to develop essential skills for the future.

"We have now entered a 45-day period of consultation, during which we will work with our employees and our trade unions to secure the best outcome for as many of our workforce as possible.

"Our aim is to make as many voluntary redundancies as we can, minimising the risk of compulsory redundancy.

"We fully understand that this news will have a major impact on employees and their families that will be affected.

"However, we firmly believe that action taken now, will ensure that Cammell Laird is agile, sustainable, and profitable.

"Equally, we will be able to deliver our current contracts and bid competitively for future work."