Political attacks on Ferguson Marine are putting the future of the shipyard in doubt, a trade union has warned.
The GMB hit out at Labour for using its members at the Port Glasgow business as a "political football".
The union said it was right the Scottish Government was held to account over the massive delays in completing two new ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne - but warned the fall-out could permanently damage Ferguson's reputation.
The shipyard was nationalised in 2019 after huge cost overruns on the ferry project pushed its former owner into administration.
The Scottish Government has faced huge political pressure to reveal why ministers decided to award the yard the contract for two ferries in 2015 despite civil service warnings.
But Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the decision to nationalise Fergusons was the right one.
GMB official Gary Cook wrote to Anas Sarwar to describe Labour's approach to Fergusons as "disappointing".
In a letter to the Scottish Labour leader, he said: "While the Scottish Government must be held to account for their poor governance, this should not come at the expense of the reputation of the workers at the yard or at the expense of the long-term future of the yard itself.
"Our members are being used as a political football".
Cook pointed to a photocall held outside the shipyard last month in which Labour's deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, was pictured in front of its entrance - but did not speak to GMB union conveners.
He added: "Careless attack lines against the SNP's poor handling of hull 801 and 802 are now jeopardising the future of the yard.
"The issue needs to be handled with more care.
"More than that, anyone commenting on Fergusons should be recognising the outstanding skills and expertise of the workforce and should be outlining their positive vision for the yard's future."
SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, whose constituency includes Fergusons, said: "The Scottish Government will never apologise for saving 300, highly-skilled, well-paid jobs on the Clyde and keeping Scotland's proud shipbuilding history alive.
"People like Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie are talking down the yard and putting its reputation at risk.
"Scottish Labour became detached from the working class a long time ago and Ferguson Marine highlights that, they seem to be content to make hundreds of people redundant during a cost of living crisis - that would be devastating for the workforce and the community which is supported by the shipyard.
"This is exactly why Labour continue to slide into irrelevance in Scotland as they become more and more detached from hard-working families."
A spokesman for Scottish Labour said: "Anas Sarwar is a member of the GMB MSP group and regularly speaks to union officials and members.
"We can understand the frustration of workers at Ferguson’s - it can’t be easy seeing your workplace constantly in the press.
"They are not to blame for the failures in the ferry project, it is an incompetent government.
“They will feel the same anger that their boss was being paid in nine days what many earn in a year.
“We also share their anger that ferry contacts are now being sent abroad, rather than creating more jobs here in Scotland.
“We believe in the future of Ferguson’s, but the workers and the public deserve answers on the decisions of incompetent ministers and the historic failures by management.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
