BAE to axe nearly 3,000 jobs

• Where the cuts will fall • Manufacturing likely to end at Brough • Unions call for government intervention Defence company BAE Systems has confirmed it is cutting almost 3,000 jobs at sites across the country, mainly in its military aircraft division. The firm ended days of speculation by giving details of a huge redundancy programme, saying it needed to maintain competitiveness. The biggest job cuts will be at sites in Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire and at Brough in east Yorkshire, although jobs will also be lost at the firm’s head office in Hampshire. Ian King, chief executive of BAE Systems, said: “Our customers are facing huge pressures on their defence budgets and affordability has become an increasing priority. Our business needs to rise to this challenge to maintain its competitiveness and ensure its long-term future.” BAE announced that it had started a consultation about ending manufacturing at the Brough site, which employs 1,300 workers. The firm said most of the job cuts would be in its military aircraft division, which is being affected by a slowdown in orders for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet. King said: “Some of our major programmes have seen significant changes. The four partner nations in the Typhoon programme [UK, Italy, Germany and Spain] have agreed to slow production rates to help ease their budget pressures. “Whilst this will help extend our production schedule and ensure the production line stays open until we receive anticipated export contracts, it does reduce the workload at a number of our sites. “The proposals announced today aim to put the business into the right shape to address the challenges we face now and in the future and ensure we are in the best possible position to win future business. “We understand that this is a time of uncertainty for our employees and we are committed to working with them and their representatives to explore ways of mitigating the potential job losses.” Unite union national officer Ian Waddell said: “After days of speculation and rumours, our worst fears have been confirmed. “It’s a dark day for thousands of skilled men and women across the country and it is a dark day for British manufacturing. “BAE Systems have dealt a hammer blow to the UK defence industry and Unite is determined to fight the cuts. “Last year the UK defence industry generated over �£9bn of revenue from exports alone. “The government’s defence review has led to deep cuts in defence spending and significant job losses, meaning it will be difficult to redeploy the jobs now at risk. “The government cannot sit on its hands and allow these highly skilled jobs to disappear. We expect the MoD to intervene urgently to protect these jobs, otherwise the UK’s defence industry risks losing the critical mass it needs to maintain its reputation as a world leader in defence manufacturing. “Once again George Osborne’s proclamation that he would create the right conditions to drive the economy forward through British manufacturing is ringing hollow.” In Brough, workers could be seen walking to a mass meeting where they were due to be addressed by a senior manager. They will then be allowed to go home for the day and the site will reopen on Wednesday. Local GMB officer Dave Oglesby said workers at the plant had been left “absolutely shocked” by the news. Speaking outside the sprawling facility, he said: “We were given firm assurances early this year that this plant would stay open – this plant was the most viable plant to deliver the Hawk [jet trainer aircraft] contract and we have had a complete turnaround. “It looks, to all intents and purposes, that this will no longer be a manufacturing facility.” Oglesby said the plant had been in existence for 100 years, often with three generations of the same family working there. He said there were 70 to 80 apprentices working at Brough. “Young people have been robbed of their future. Nine hundred families have been robbed of their livelihoods,” he added. BAE Systems Job losses Manufacturing sector Defence policy guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 27, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.