{"id":11214,"date":"2017-01-24T11:50:36","date_gmt":"2017-01-24T11:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=11214"},"modified":"2017-01-24T11:50:36","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T11:50:36","slug":"helicopter-production-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=11214","title":{"rendered":"Helicopter production threat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Probing questions need to be asked about the future of UK helicopter production when MPs debate the industry today (January 24).<\/p>\n

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Unite has been pressing MPs on the industry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s future, following Leonardo losing out to Boeing in its bid to gain the majority of the work for the latest generation of Apache attack helicopters for the British army last summer.<\/p>\n

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The Westminster Hall debate is being held this afternoon<\/a> and will be led by Yeovil\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s MP Marcus Fysh.<\/p>\n

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In November, Unite hit out at the \u00e2\u20ac\u0098wholescale betrayal\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 of the Yeovil GKN workforce, with 221 jobs under threat, when the plant\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s closure by the end of 2017 was announced.<\/p>\n

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GKN workers make airframes for Italian-owned Leonardo Helicopters – formerly AgustaWestland which is on the same site \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and GKN said that Leonardo has decided to take all future AW159 Wild Cat work \u00e2\u20ac\u0098in house\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is very appropriate in the week when the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s industrial strategy is unveiled that MPs debate the future of the helicopter industry which suffered a severe blow with the GKN announcement in November,” said Unite regional officer Heathcliffe Pettifer.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIf ministers are serious about a strong manufacturing base in the UK, they need to give serious attention to British helicopter production which is world class with a highly skilled and motivated workforce.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe proof of the pudding is in the eating and last year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s decision when Leonardo lost out to Boeing, which gained the majority of the work for the latest generation of Apache attack helicopters, does not generate confidence,” he added.<\/p>\n

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Unite is urging MPs to consider the following pertinent questions:<\/p>\n

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