BAE systems has announced plans to cut almost 600 jobs across its Woodford and Brough sites following a review that shows there will not be enough ongoing work to sustain the current staffing level.
The completion of current orders and failure to win new contracts is thought to be behind the job cutting move, which will see 134 jobs go at BAE’s Woodford plant near Stockport which produces the Nimrod MRA4, and 450 go at Brough in East Yorkshire where the Hawk trainer jet is produced.
The majority of job losses will be among skilled engineers, although staff in support and manufacturing are also likely to be affected.
Bernie Hamilton, Unite national officer, said: “Only a few day ago the Red Arrows had the Hawks on display to celebrate the RAF’s 90th anniversary. Sadly the future for the skilled workers that built these state of the art jets is now uncertain. We have known for some time that we had a challenge on our hands, both sites due to the completion and delivery of current orders for the fast jet trainer and the completion of work cycles at Woodford. Winning new orders in a competitive market is very challenging. At the same time the industry is rising to meet demand for new technologies like the unmanned combat aircraft (UCAVs).”
