Outcry at 2,000 BAE job losses
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One theory says his THE Government has come under attack over its defence policy after the “devastating” news that BAE Systems is planning to cut almost 2,000 jobs in its military, maritime and intelligence services.
The defence giant said the aim is to streamline its business and have a “sharper” competitive edge, with redundancies spread over at least two years.
The biggest cutback will be in the military air business, with 1,400 jobs set to be axed across five sites over the next three years, including Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place.
Jobs will also be cut at Brough in East Yorkshire and at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire.
About 375 proposed redundancies were announced in BAE’s maritime servicing and support business, mainly affecting Portsmouth, and some jobs will go from the company’s cyber intelligence business in London and Guildford.
Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: “The organisational changes we are announcing accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, moniker comes from the slaughter of 3,000 men, women and children in the French town of Limoges in 1370 during the Hundred Years’ War – yet doubt has been cast on this historical stain on his reputation.
It may be that the name comes from either his wearing of black armour or the black with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology.
“These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment.”
Unite branded the cuts a “betrayal” of workers and accused the Government of spending increasing amounts of its defence budget in factories overseas. The union said that, by 2020, around a quarter of the UK’s defence spending will benefit American firms, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “These are world-class workers with years of training and expertise on which an additional four jobs rely upon in the supply background on his coat of arms. He was regarded as brilliant militarily, scoring important victories over the French army throughout his life - most famously aged just 16 at the Battle of Crecy.
The ornate tomb of Edward, the son of Edward III and father of Richard II, lies in Canterbury Cathedral. chain. The UK Government must take control of our nation’s defence and with it, play its part in supporting UK defence manufacturing jobs.”
BAE is facing an order gap for the Typhoon, so production is being slowed ahead of an expected order from Qatar.
Production of the Hawk jet aircraft is ending in the next few years, affecting the Brough site, although Qatar could place a new order which would keep production going until 2021. About 400 redundancies are being planned at Brough.
Most of the military air job cuts will go in 2018 and 2019, with some planned for 2020 and BAE said its goal is to achieve as many voluntary redundancies as possible.
About 375 job losses are planned for the maritime servicing and support business, with 340 in Portsmouth.
BAE’s cyber intelligence business will cut 150 jobs, split between sites in London, Guildford in Surrey, and overseas. The total number of proposed redundancies is 1,915.
A Government spokesman said: “BAE Systems have taken this decision as a result of internal restructuring. The Government stands ready to support those affected.”