Lancashire plants to be hit hard as BAE axe jobs

by Nick Webster. Published Tue 27 Sep 2011 13:23, Last updated: 2011-09-29

BAE plants in Lancashire will suffer the brunt of the latest round of job cuts that are being blamed on government spending cuts.

Defence giant BAE Systems has confirmed that it will axe nearly 3,000 jobs at sites across the UK, wiht the worst-affected sector being its military aircraft division.

Giving details of the new redundancy programme BAE said it "needs to maintain competitiveness".

The biggest blow will come at sites in Warton, Preston and Samlesbury. Jobs will also go at Brough in East Yorkshire, and at the firm's head office in Hampshire.

BAE said the potential job losses included 899 at Brough, 565 at Samlesbury and 843 at Warton and Preston. The firm announced that it had started a consultation about ending manufacturing at the Brough site, which currently employs 1,300 workers.

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."

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "Business Secretary Vince Cable has to intervene to help create new businesses in places like Brough and Lancashire to prevent the high skills of these workers being lost to the economy.

In Brough, local GMB officer Dave Oglesby said workers at the plant had been left "absolutely shocked" by the news.

One worker, maintenance technician Edward Potter, said he was "off to go home to look for a job". The 29-year-old, who has worked at the plant for 14 years, added: "It is the end of manufacturing at Brough. There's not really much else to say."

Mr Cable said: "This news from BAE Systems will be a serious knock to the individuals and communities affected.

My officials and the BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) local teams are already in touch with the company, local authorities and local enterprise partnerships to make sure that everything possible is done to help those affected at Brough, Warton, Samlesbury and other sites."

BAE spelled-out its proposed redundance scheme.

A statement said:"BAE Systems has today announced nearly 3,000 potential job losses within its Military Air & Information (MAI) and Shared Services businesses and at its Head Office.

This announcement is in response to changes in key programmes and the need to maintain competitiveness through offering affordable products and services to customers.

The potential job losses are as follows
• 899 at Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire
• 51 at Christchurch, Dorset
• 78 at Farnborough, Hampshire
• 74 at Filton, Bristol
• 81 at Frimley, Surrey
• 26 at Great Baddow, Essex
• 35 at Hillend, Fife
• 21 at Loughborough, Leicestershire
• 7 at Malvern, Worcestershire
• 19 at New Malden, Surrey
• 565 at Samlesbury, Lancashire
• 843 at Warton and Preston, Lancashire
• 132 at Yeovil, Somerset
• 102 at other UK locations including Royal Air Force bases
• 9 in overseas locations

Ian King, Chief Executive, BAE Systems commented: “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.

“Some of our major programmes have seen significant changes. The four partner nations in the Typhoon programme 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.

“Pressure on the US defence budget and top level programme changes mean the anticipated increase in F-35 production rates will be slower than originally planned, again impacting on our expected workload.

“To ensure we remain competitive, both in the UK and internationally, we need to reduce the overall costs of our businesses in-line with our reduced workload.

“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. This transformation process is not going to be easy. 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.”

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