Too Far Too Fast

The defence giant BAE Systems has been accused of cutting ‘too far, too fast’ after announcing that 371 jobs are to go at Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire.

Unite is urging the firm to offer a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies after what the union described as “disappointing news.”

The job losses in BAE’s Military Air and Information business follows a decision by the firm to reduce production of the Typhoon aircraft and has led to warnings from the union that cutting jobs could lead to a skills shortage if orders pick up.

Disappointing news

 

Unite national officer Ian Waddell said: “This is disappointing news on top of a miserable few weeks for manufacturing in the UK.  

 “The government needs to stop dithering and act urgently to stop the haemorrhage of skilled UK manufacturing jobs.”

 BAE said it expected sales of the Typhoon to fall from around £1.3bn this year to £1.1bn in 2016.

Critical skills

Waddell added: “the Typhoon is a superb aircraft, but it faces tough competition in the export market. It is vital that critical skills and capability are maintained by BAE Systems and their supply chain so that the ability to build the Typhoon in the UK is protected. 

Too far too fast

 

“Cutting too far, too fast could lead to a skills shortage for when orders pick up.”

 Waddell pointed out that Unite would now be “working closely with the company to understand and manage the proposed job losses and seeking guarantees of no compulsory redundancies.

 “In the meantime the government must redouble its efforts to help the company win vital export orders.”