Save BAE factory call

Unite will reassert its determination to ensure that manufacturing continues at the BAE factory in Brough, East Yorkshire, tomorrow (November 9).

Representatives of the workforce at the Brough factory will be addressed by Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner.

BAE’s plans to cut nearly 2,000 jobs across the company, include ending manufacturing at Brough, which builds the Hawk jet famed for showcasing British manufacturing across the world by the RAF’s Red Arrow display team.

Unite is campaigning and will support members in the fight to reverse these job cuts; retaining jobs and skills necessary to defend our manufacturing capability. Unite will defend world class apprenticeships and safeguard the communities that have supported the site for decades.

Unite is clear that the government must now step in to secure our sovereign defence capability into the future, it can and must now confirm orders for the replacement  Hawk jets for the Red Arrows, replacing the existing fleet which was built in the 1970s. By committing now to build new Red Arrows jets, manufacturing at the site would continue, safeguarding 400 jobs.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Mr Turner said,“Unite has battled to save manufacturing at Brough before and we will successfully do so again.

“Brough has world class workers who are building a world class product; it would be a gross dereliction of responsibility and duty on the part of both government and BAE if these jobs, skills and our defence manufacturing capability was lost.

“We must ensure the MoD orders new Hawk jets for the Red Arrows and invests now as a partner with BAE in the advanced Hawk currently under development,” he added. “It would be unthinkable for the Red Arrows to take to the skies promoting British interests in foreign built planes.”

Unite is also calling for the government to commit to financially supporting exports and  advanced orders of the Typhoon along with a commitment to the future generation fighter jet programme, securing the UK’s ability to independently manufacture fighter jets at BAE sites at Brough, Samlesbury and Warton and tens of thousands of jobs in the supply chain.

Unite is further pressing for commitments from the Ministry of Defence that the Type 31e Frigates and planned Royal Navy auxiliary vessels will be built in the UK to support jobs, skills and communities.

Unite is supporting a petition launched by Diana Johnson MP which calls on the government to take action to safeguard over 400 jobs and manufacturing at the BAE Brough site.