Two thousand shipbuilders, angered at the continuing question mark hanging over their jobs at the Harland and Wolff yard in Belfast, marched on a city centre hotel yesterday looking for answers.
"Stop playing poker games with our livelihoods," shouted one worker. "We've done all that was asked of us, what more can we do? If the money is not there it's not there," said another, apparently prepared for the worst.
The spectre of closure has hung over the famous shipyard for many months now as the dispute between the company's management and its only customer, the US firm Global Marine, became public knowledge.
More that £100 million sterling (€127 million) is allegedly owed to the yard by the US firm, but workers were unsure yesterday in what direction to vent their anger. Global had reneged on its promises but the management appeared not care about them, seemingly more interested in other interests in the Docklands rather than in shipbuilding.
Three RUC officers prevented the crowd from entering the hotel where local politicians were meeting with Global Marine. There was a brief scuffle before Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party intervened. The politicians addressed the workers back in the yard. The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, told them to go back to work "keeping your chins up as much as you possibly can", adding that the negotiations in London over the next two days would be "crucial".
"We're all just hoping that we won't loose our jobs before Christmas," said a worker as the men drifted back to work, content they had made a stand but aware that the matter was out of their hands.
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