Ferry workers are threatening strike action to force Holyrood ministers into protecting their pay and conditions if state-owned ferry services are privatised.
The dispute arises out of union fears that the Scottish Government is preparing to put Caledonian MacBrayne's Ardrossan to Brodick, Wemyss Bay to Rothesay, Oban to Craignure, and Largs to Cumbrae routes out to tender for the new contract from October 2013.
Please enable cookies in your browser to display the rest of this article.