Fairline recruits new workers just months after previous owners laid off most staff

Unite The Union have welcomed the creation of 20 new jobs, but have warned that the company has adopted an ‘anti-union’ stance.

Fairline Boats made 381 staff redundant in December last year after the company with bases in Corby and Oundle went into administration retaining just 69 workers to finish existing orders.

Unite the Union reported at the time that staff had been “sacrificed on the altar of uncaring capitalism”, claiming the firm did not pay the employees’ pension contributions for three months, while still deducting contributions from staff pay packets.

The union also said staff had not been paid for 10 weeks and that suppliers had not been paid for three months.

The firm was eventually sold to mystery Russian investors and has a new name - Fairline Yachts, a separate company.

It has now emerged that during the past seven months, many of the previous staff have been taken back on by the new company, and new workers recruited. Now the firm is advertising for 20 more people to work for them - taking the total number of staff back up to 250.

The recruitment drive follows what the firm describes as a ‘phenomenal’ success at the Cannes and Southampton boat shows in Septebmer.

The new jobs will be based at its factory in Oundle. The Corby factory remains closed and the lease is being advertised.

Workers are being recruited for a variety of roles including engineers, carpenters, CNC operatives and stage 1 fitters.

But Unite the Union said that the company had blocked all attempts it had made to communicate on behalf of its members.

Unite regional officer Mick Orpin said: “While we welcome the creation of new jobs at Fairline Yachts, all the efforts by Unite to enter into a constructive dialogue with the new owners have been meet by a brick wall.

“We were recognised by the previous ownership set-up and would welcome the opportunity to discuss legitimate employment issues with the company for the benefit of the workforce, but it seems to have adopted an anti-union stance, which is not conducive to good and progressive industrial relations in 2016.”

The new members of the Fairline team will help to support both the introduction of new models to the company’s range - which includes the brand new Targa 63 GTO, launching in Summer 2017 and the Squadron 53, set to be unveiled in January.

Fairline’s managing director Russell Currie said: “This is an exciting time for Fairline Yachts. Hot on the heels of two very successful international boat shows – Cannes and Southampton – where customer deposits were received for boats from across our range, we are now preparing to exhibit at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida next month. Our forward order book for next year and beyond is looking very robust. This success is thanks to outstanding product designs, a skilled workforce and a committed global dealer network. We are delivering on our promise to build boats that customers want to own and dealers want to sell, and I am pleased to say that we have reached the point where we now need to grow our team further so that we can continue to do so.”

Fairline is looking to fill the positions immediately and the appointments will take the total employee head count to almost 250.

There is more information on the roles available and details of how to apply here