BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field is joining union representatives this morning  for a meeting with Cammell Laird shipyard management in a bid to avoid 98 workers being made redundant.

An announcement earlier this week that jobs are at risk was described by a union chief as "devastating" news for workers.

Cammell Laird said as a result of finishing dry-docking and refit contracts, and without certainty of being awarded similar contracts in the immediate term, the company needed to address its cost base to remain competitive.

A statement said: "Consequently there are 98 jobs at risk. The company continues to bid for significant opportunities and remains optimistic for future growth."

Albie McGuigan, GMB regional officer, said: "This announcement is a shock to the trade unions and devastating news to the workers.

"We believe that the 30-day minimum consultation period is not enough time to deal with the consequences of this decision and it should be extended.

"The unions have offered to reduce costs for the company over the next few months by agreeing to cut two hours from the working week until a new Arctic ship project is started, or for them to suggest an alternative that will avoid compulsory redundancies."

A Cammell Laird spokesman said: "Cammell Laird is principally a marine and engineering contracting business.

"This means we can have peaks in demand for skilled and semi-skilled labour, which is the nature of contract-based industries."