A UK shipyard boss has apologised after criticising striking workers.
Cammell Laird's John Syvret said employees taking industrial action over job cuts were "pandering to negative stereotypes of Merseyside".
He has withdrawn his statement after talks with Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson, who called the comments "exaggerated" and "stupid", the BBC reported.
Unite and GMB unions are striking over plans to axe 291 jobs.
Merseyside-born Syvret said: "I apologise to Mr Anderson and anyone else who considered this to be an overly negative point to make.
"To clarify, all at Cammell Laird simply want and need this industrial action to end in order to allow the company to freely trade."
Cammell Laird said the strike action had already cost the firm a £1.5m ($1.9m) contract.
Syvret began as an apprentice shipbuilder at the company in 1977.
