Aerospace firm hit by pandemic in job cuts talks
A DERBYSHIRE aerospace engineering firm has confirmed it has entered into redundancy talks with staff after seeing business hit hard by Covid-19.
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has a factory at Cadley Hill Industrial Estate in Ryder Close, Swadlincote.
General manager of the site Richard Furlong said business had dropped by 40 per cent as a result of the pandemic’s impact on the industry.
Mr Furlong said the firm was in discussions with workers and the union Unite.
Unite claimed the company was looking to make 60 roles redundant from a workforce of 137.
Mr Furlong said: “Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has been closely monitoring the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the global aerospace industry.
“As a key supplier in this industry we have seen a reduction of orders in the region of 40 per cent.
“We have announced measures to our employees to deal with the downturn in the business and we will now enter into a 30-day consultation and collaborate with Unite the union.
“We have no further details to add at this time; it is our priority to communicate first with our employees.”
Unite regional officer Katie Morris said: “This is a further blow to the aerospace industry in the East Midlands.
“Dozens of our members and their families will be feeling heartbroken and fearful tonight but we will do our very best by them.
“There is no doubt in our mind that these job losses are a direct result of the UK government’s failure to provide targeted sectorspecific support, unlike other countries such as France and Germany, which have provided billions to protect their aerospace industry.
“Unite expects to enter into constructive consultations with Trelleborg. We’re determined to keep job losses to an absolute minimum and on a voluntary basis.”
According to Trelleborg’s website, the Cadley Hill site is a manufacturer of airframe seals and reinforced components for the aerospace industry.