Nearly 1,000 NW jobs to go in BAE cuts
DEFENCE giant BAE Systems is planning to axe 956 jobs at its North West factories in the wake of Government cuts.
The bulk of the job losses, 668, will come at the plant in Warton near Preston, while more than 100 will be lost at Samlesbury, Lancashire, and nearly 80 at Chadderton, Greater Manchester.
In addition the company said it was looking to bring forward its planned closure of the Woodford site near Stockport after the axe fell on the Nimrod replacement programme. Woodford was due to close in 2012 and employs around 600 people.
The potential job cuts at Chadderton are associated with the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 programm,, while at Samlesbury and Warton the end of Nimrod and the early withdrawal from service of the Harrier fleet were blamed.
Also incuded in the figure is around 90 posts, mainly based at Samlesbury, related to streamlining of business from BAE Systems Saudi Arabia.
Kevin Taylor, Managing Director of BAE Systems Military Air Solutions said: “Since the publication of the Strategic Defence Spending Review in October we have taken time to understand the implications for our business.
“We have recently received termination for customer convenience notices for the Nimrod MRA4 and Harrier contracts and this has regrettably led us to initiating consultation regarding potential job losses.
“Today’s announcement is designed to ensure we remain competitive as we actively pursue a number of opportunities for our other products and services both in the UK and internationally.
“Military Air Solutions remains a sustainable business with a strong business plan. I appreciate this is difficult news for our people and we are committed to working with employees and their representatives to explore ways of mitigating the potential job losses.”
Dr Brian Sloan, head of business and economic policy at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “The job losses at BAE Systems in Chadderton are a further blow to the Greater Manchester economy coming on top of the planned closure of the Woodford factory.
“At the moment it is hard to see where the growth in skilled manufacturing jobs in the North West will come from. The Government wants to see an export-led recovery but this can only come if high-tech companies such as BAE Systems are expanding.”
