1,000 NW jobs to go as BAE axes Woodford site
MORE than 1,000 North West jobs are to go at defence giant BAE Systems.
The bulk of jobs will go at BAE’s historic Woodford in Cheshire, which will close in 2012, while there were also cuts at the company’s major Lancashire sites Samlesbury and Warton.
The historic Woodford factory, which made 7,000 Lancaster Bombers during World War II, has focused on the refurbishment and revamp of the RAF’s giant Nimrod MRA4 aircraft, since the end of production of the RJX regional jet in 2001.
Last year BAE Systems cut more than 130 jobs at the site, reducing the workforce to 630.
In a statement BAE Systems said: “It has been clear since 2003 that the Woodford site had little future beyond the end of Nimrod MRA4 production, and the workforce has been kept informed since that time.
“Despite strenuous efforts to achieve further Nimrod production work there has been none forthcoming. It is intended that there will be a phased run-down of the site in line with the production programme.
“At Samlesbury the potential job losses are in the manufacturing function and are associated with the end of Airbus work currently undertaken by BAE Systems for Spirit AeroSystems.
“At Warton the potential job losses are in the Manufacturing and Operations areas as work on the Nimrod, Tornado and Hawk programmes decreases.”
Kevin Taylor, managing director of Military Air Solutions commented: “Whilst we regret having to make this announcement we have to ensure we are the right size and shape to remain competitive and meet our customer’s requirements in the future.
“We will work with our employees and their representatives to explore ways of mitigating these potential job losses and we will do everything necessary to deal with the potential job losses and closure of Woodford in a professional way and support our people throughout this process.”
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) said the news was “bitterly disappointing”.
General Secretary Hugh Scullion told the BBC the union would lobby the Government to save the Woodford plant.
The news of the skilled job losses threatened to cast a shadow over Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s address to the Trades Union Congress in Liverpool this afternoon.
Martin Wright, chief executive of the North West Aerospace Alliance, said: “The news of job losses at BAE Systems is concerning for the region as these are high value jobs that are difficult to replace.”
He said the cuts were “not a reflection of decline” in the region’s prospects for aerospace.
“The Typhoon and especially the F35 Lightning programmes offer the potential of significant growth in work for the region as the manufacture of the F35 ramps up.
“Given the future potential of military and civil aerospace, we feel strongly that the North West aerospace supply chain will respond positively to maintain and strengthen its position as the lead region for aerospace in the UK,” he added.
Chris Fletcher,deputy chief executive of Greater Manchester Chamber, said: “This is a blow to the Greater Manchester economy. These are skilled jobs that we do not want to lose.
“We would urge BAE Systems to rethink its decision. But if these redundancies cannot be avoided we would ask that staff are given all the support they need to find new employment in what is a difficult jobs market.
“This is a reminder that conditions are still tough for many companies despite reports that the economy is improving. Even when conditions do improve it will be many months before this is reflected in the jobs market.”
