UNION leaders hope they can hold talks with Gordon Brown about financial aid to save North-East shipyards.
GMB general secretary Kevin Curran and regional secretary Tom Brennan met Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to raise concerns about the Swan Hunter shipyards on Tyneside and Teesside.
They said the talks were positive and paved the way for discussions with the Chancellor. They will ask Mr Brown for aid to keep the yards open between Navy contracts.
Last month, the Government gave Swans £84m to safeguard jobs after it incurred a huge overspend due to problems building two ships. About 100 jobs are to go at the Wallsend yard next month, when work is completed on the Largs Bay.
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