Jobs to go at aerospace firm

A DERBYSHIRE aerospace engineering firm has confirmed it has entered 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. Mr Furlong said the firm is in discussions with workers and the union Unite the Union.

Unite claims the company is looking to make 60 roles redundant from a total 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.”

Unite regional officer Katie Morris said: “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 sector-specific support, unlike other countries such as France and Germany, which have provided billions to protect their aerospace industry.”