Unions’ outrage as fighter jet firm slashes 2,000 jobs
ALMOST 2,000 jobs are to be axed by BAE Systems in another blow to Britain’s aviation industry, the defence giant announced yesterday.
The cuts will be carried out over the next three years to create “a more streamlined business”.
A total of 750 jobs will go at BAE’s sites in Lancashire, 400 at Brough in East Yorkshire, 340 in Portsmouth, plus 245 at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and RAF Marham in Norfolk.
The cuts were announced despite BAE announcing an 11 per cent rise in pre-tax earnings to £945million. And last month Qatar signed a Statement of Intent for a multi-billion pound deal to buy 24 Eurofighter Typhoons. However, the company says it faces an order gap for the fighter jet, so is slowing production before the Qatar order.
BAE employs 34,600 staff in the UK out of a global workforce of 83,100. The main focus of the cuts is in the military air business, particularly at its plants in Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Typhoon is assembled.
Brough will be hit because of declining orders for the ageing Hawk aircraft.
Union bosses slammed the cuts and claimed that they put the defence of the realm at risk. Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “These planned job cuts will not only undermine Britain’s sovereign defence capability, but devastate communities across the UK who rely on these skilled jobs and the hope of a decent future they give to future generations.
“These are world class workers with years of training and expertise.”
Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith said: “This is truly appalling news for BAE’s workers and for communities across the UK. It is time for the Government to address the clear uncertainty felt by the industry and come forward with an urgent plan to save these jobs.”
Belfast-based Bombardier faces turmoil after being threatened with import duties of 300 per cent to sell its jets in the US after a complaint by rival Boeing. Bombardier workers will today protest outside Parliament in a bid to persuade the Government to defend their jobs.