BBC News Online
The Scottish Socialist Party also joined in the condemnation of the government.
Its national convenor Colin Fox pledged his party's support for the CalMac workers and said: "They have the complete backing of the SSP in their fight to defend jobs, pay, conditions and pensions.
"The SSP has done everything we can in parliament to back the CalMac workers and we will continue to do so alongside practical solidarity by our members on the ground and in the RMT.
"By putting west coast ferry services to competition the executive is going against the democratic will of the Scottish people expressed in parliament by a vote not to put the routes out to tender."
