Expected BAE Systems job losses ‘hammer blow’
ALMOST 900 jobs are likely to be cut at BAE Systems’ military aircraft manufacturing site in East Yorkshire, with an announcement expected later today.
Although tight-lipped on the precise numbers BAE – the country’s largest defence manufacturer – is due to make an announcement later today.
Citing un-named sources the BBC said Lancashire and Yorkshire would be worst hit with Lancashire sites Warton and Samlesbury losing 822 and 565 jobs respectively.
The factory in Brough in East Yorkshire, which is a specialist manufacturer of the Hawk aircraft, will lose 900 jobs.
A further 655 jobs will also be lost at smaller sites, taking the final figure to 2,942.
Falling orders as defence budgets have been slashed on both sides of the Atlantic are at the root of the cutbacks. Unions said the news was a “hammer blow” to the industry.
BAE says it had reviewed operations to ensure it was performing “efficiently”.
The company said yesterday: “Whilst there has been a lot of media speculation it has always been our intention to communicate the results of the review to employees as a priority.”
BAE Systems currently employs just under 100,000 staff globally, of which 40,000 are in the UK.
Last December, the company said it was planning 1,400 job losses across all operations, including sites in Hampshire, Greater Manchester and Somerset.
