Unite heads to BAE Brough in bid to save jobs
Union Unite is holding a meeting with staff at the BAE factory in Brough today, where 400 jobs are set to be axed.
The union said it “will reassert its determination to ensure that manufacturing continues” at the East Yorkshire factory when representatives of the workforce at the site will be addressed by Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner.
Last month it was announced that BAE Systems is planning to cut around 400 jobs at its Brough site, part of the 2,000 job cuts across the firm’s military, maritime and intelligence services.
Plans 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.
In a statement, Unite said: “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, 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.
“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. 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.
