Discontented shipyard workers, mass rallies at the Ulster Hall, the threat of imminent closure and a last minute reprieve: Mr Eddie Harvey has seen it all before.

A former labourer and later a shop steward at Harland & Wolff, Mr Harvey, followed his father into the shipyards and worked there for more than 20 years until being paid off a few years ago. He has remained unfazed by management's claims of imminent closure in past weeks and is well used to the rollercoaster ride which is working for Harland & Wolff.

"When I was in the yard we had plenty of work, but they were always panicking saying it was going to close. For years they were crying wolf, saying they were going to close the yard and then not," he says. "A lot of workers feel hard done by with the wages deal agreed this week."

The deal, presented as an ultimatum to staff, includes a three-year wage freeze, a no-strike agreement and the possibility of placing some workers on shorttime working. It is understood unions have agreed to accept the loss of 350 jobs as the shipyard slims down its shipbuilding operation.

Following an inflammatory meeting of almost 1,000 workers the deal passed by a margin of only 35 votes illustrating the depth of feeling among rank and file workers.

Mr Harvey is extremely critical of the present management at the shipyard. "The people that own it now don't know the people that live in east Belfast, they don't know the culture of Belfast. People will never work now, not with the way they have treated them."

His feelings are matched by many of the workers who voted against the recent pay deal. Steven, a middle aged-worker at the yard, was one of those who voted against the wage agreement.

"The management here is playing mind games with us. They are manipulative and want to squeeze the workforce for profit," he says. "Our wages won't change now for three years and the cost of living is going up all the time."

Another worker in his early 20s, John, is critical of what he sees as lack of management foresight. "There is no investment in skills in the company. It's all very short sighted. Last year they stopped all the apprenticeships and the skills network is disappearing," he says.

"They hire in sub-contract work and pay them more than the local workers in the yard and pay their digs," he says. "And now they will have a say in who is made redundant."

Several workers leaving the mass meeting at the Ulster Hall on Tuesday said they would be looking for new jobs rather than accept management's terms and conditions. But perhaps a better illustration of workforce morale at present is the fact that some 500 workers didn't bother to attend a crucial vote on the company's future.

"If you were being paid off tomorrow, would you have any interest in it? I don't think some of the workers will have their heart in it," says Mr Harvey, who now works voluntarily at the Westbourne Glentoran Supporters Club on the Newtonards Road, which stands in the shadow of the huge shipyard cranes, Sampson and Goliath.

However, despite his criticism, Mr Harvey believes it is essential that the yard's future is secured for the community.

"It would be a terrible disaster if the yard closed for the clubs, pubs and shopping in east Belfast and the whole of the Northern Irish economy," he says.

Aside from the 1,800 people directly employed by the shipyard, it is estimated some 2,500 sub-contractors depend on work supplied by the shipyard and the spin-off in employment in the local community is sizeable.

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment at the stalled assembly, believes it is still a big player, employing some 2 per cent of the manufacturing workforce in the North.

He stresses it is the psychological significance of Harland & Wolff which sets it apart. "Part of the reason that east Belfast is there is shipbuilding. It dominates the skyline," says Sir Reg.

However, if the cranes of Harland & Wolff are to continue to mark out the Belfast skyline in the long term, the last few weeks have illustrated the need for serious attention to be paid to industrial relations.