BAE in jobs bombshell
Defence giant BAE Systems has confirmed nearly 450 jobs are to go at its Lancashire factories.
The firm has confirmed on Thursday that 298 jobs will go at its factory in Warton, near Preston with a further 149 at Samlesbury.
It said the losses, which were reported by the Evening Post before the announcement, were as a result of cuts in defence spending announced last year and “other workload changes.”
At Warton, the axe will fall on workers on the Tornado, Harrier and Hawk programmes which have all seen workload reductions along with “a reduction in engineering development and test work.”
At Samlesbury, the losses are connected to work undertaken by the company for Spirit Aerosystems (Europe) and changing workload levels across a number of other production programmes, the company added in a statement on Thursday.
Kevin Taylor, managing director of the Military Air Solutions division which runs the Lancashire sites, said that the company had to make the cuts.
He said: “While we regret having to make this announcement we must ensure we remain competitive by having the correct skills, capabilities and resources.
“We appreciate this is difficult news for our employees and we are committed to working with our employees and their representatives to explore ways of mitigating these potential job losses and supporting our people at this time.”
The company added that it was “vital that MAS remains competitive and properly positioned” ahead of the government’s strategic defence review which is expected to see defence spending slashed in October.
BAE has also said that 212 jobs will go at its MAS sites in Brough, East Yorkshire, 55 at its headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire and 26 in Chadderton, Greater Manchester.
Fylde MP Mark Menzies, whose constituency includes the Warton site which employs 6,500 people, said the losses highlighted the importance of securing exports sales of BAE’s Eurofighter Typhoon jets and its unmanned air vehicle projects.
He said: “I have spoken to the Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox, where I stressed the importance of the UK’s export and UAV production potential.”
Are you a BAE Systems worker? Tell us your view by emailing david.coates@lep.co.uk or telephoning 01772 838162.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Comments
There are 36 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
jonh
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 12:33 PMSuper7, it's OK, I knew you'd use it to ignore any proper argument.
super7
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 07:20 AMAhhhh let's use the spelling and grammar stick, looks like a lot of well written CV's will be circulating shortly......
jonh
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 07:03 AMSuper7, not sure WHERE you are coming from (your grasp of English is tenuous). If I am sick (rare) and don't phone in, I'll get disciplinary action taken. I also don't want to work for any company WHERE you "have to go work with flu" as such a company is very poorly managed and would seriously underperform overall and I would not benefit. Personally, I'd put you in a room with a good group of the shop floor and get you to say what you have written to their faces (assuming you can speak better than you write).
kezzer
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 11:38 PMIm with john...it affects all connections with BAE...where do the doleys get the idea that working there is a doddle..?? Good hardworking,skilled people with this company...no free meals for the last 25 years...your so out of touch Dolites ! You NOW blame immigration for your plight ??? Eh?Edwina who??? Silly woman,doesnt think...she will be ok...shes losing touch of a really bad situation here! 1 more thing,our Gment need to stop awarding contracts to external sources..keep it here !! UK workers !!
super7
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 11:32 PMWere people have go to work with flu and not ring in and take 6 months of with pay with a sniffle because they can... I hope all those who lose there jobs gain employment as they will see how it really is.....!!!
jonh
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 10:29 PM"Federal Republic of Germany are supportive of their *peaceful* manufacturing sector." Ah, so Germany do not build Eurofighter Typhoons then? They never built Tornado bombers? PLEASE do a modicum of research before posting such silly comments! And if you despise the UK's unethical business so much, leave, please. And BAE are not sacking 1000 people, nothing says that anywhere. There are potential job losses, the real number will likely be much different once redeployments, VR etc has occurred. Stop feeding ignorant LEP tabloid journalism. Super7, so what is the "real workplace" I wonder, please enlighten us.
Can we discuss?!
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 09:40 PMWow.... not sure how many people who have commented on this thread are actually employed by BAE but I am, a lot of people feel this is just the tip of the iceberg... once the SDSR is complete there may be even more job losses. Like a few people have said job losses don't only have implications for many direct employees, the company supports a huge number of local businesses and supports the local economy. Many employees at both Lancashire sites are young with families to support and mortgages to pay, for those who lose their jobs it will be devastating.... I could be one of them in the future!!! Hopefully I have another 25 - 30 years to do but in this uncertain time you don't know what is around the corner!
im a pc
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 09:20 PMRE: the other write up on the story of john paul newsham, it wont let me comment on that story but what a v v v ugly looking individual, he must be a virgin!!! what a little rat..
Diesel10
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 08:25 PMEdwina - you know that saying about putting your brain into gear before opening your mouth? well, it can also be applied to your keyboard - it will go some way to stoping you repeatedly looking like a complete tit.
Al Batros
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 08:15 PMIf these were Public Servants there'd be photos of people carrying strike placards and much wailing about them not causing the economy to crash. Yet this is a business that brings in billions of pounds in export earnings and the jobs are a far greater loss to the UK economy. Public Servants depend on this money for their livelihoods and we all depend on it for our hospitals and schools.
super7
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 08:10 PMNo I pressed refresh, the multiple post problem.. There are no jobs for life anymore and these people will be well looked after with regards to payouts. And for most a spell in the real workplace may do them a world of good......
ratus ratur6
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 07:34 PMJonh, what next pro student anti student bashing diatribes perchance ! I have relatives who worked in the shoe and boot industry in the East Midlands no one helped them and appart from the application of a boot to a student totally ethical and clean; Ok the boot maybee but not the foot of one of Prestons finest scum in the boot !
ratus ratur6
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 07:30 PMJonh, what next pro student anti student bashing diatribes perchance ! I have relatives who worked in the shoe and boot industry in the East Midlands no one helped them and appart from the application of a boot to a student totally ethical and clean; Ok the boot maybee but not the foot of one of Prestons finest scum in the boot !
ratus ratur6
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 07:20 PMJonh, what next pro student anti student bashing diatribes perchance ! I have relatives who worked in the shoe and boot industry in the East Midlands no one helped them and appart from the application of a boot to a student totally ethical and clean; Ok the boot maybee but not the foot of one of Prestons finest scum in the boot !
Andyyy
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 06:27 PMRe #20: You are defending a business that is about to sack nearly 1000 of your colleagues. This is a good justification for slagging off BAE and needs to be considered alongside BAE's very significant contribution to the local economy and community. On a more general note have you ever wondered why the UK is so dependent on un-ethical industries such as "defence", nuclear, vivsection etc? It is because the other jobs have been exported, and because of people like you (and in the past, me) voting for politicians that allowed that to happen. To make matters worse these unethical industries are in decline whereas in other countries the normal industries, in some cases, are expanding. For instance Japan and the Federal Republic of Germany are supportive of their *peaceful* manufacturing sector. As for people posting in the afternoon have you stopped to consider that they might be on part time? You will be aware some of your own colleagues are on part-time contracts. Or else they might be retired or self-employed. Or unemployed and posting from the library. Finally your comments on the local shops are laughable. Do you also hold the view that the residents of Fletcher Road and the surrounding streets ought to be grateful to the street girls who work on their streets? After all they do support the local corner shops by buying their cigs there.
Page 1 of 3
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.