BAE Systems is to close its Woodford site in Cheshire and cut jobs at another three facilities, resulting in the loss of 1,116 jobs.
Under the proposed programme of closure and cuts, BAE Systems’ Woodford site will close at the end of 2012, on completion of the Nimrod MRA4 production contract, with the loss of 630 jobs.
Up to 205 manufacturing jobs could be lost at Samlesbury, Lancashire, with the end of Airbus work currently undertaken by BAE Systems for Spirit AeroSystems.
At Warton in Lancashire, 170 job losses are expected as work on the Nimrod, Tornado and Hawk programmes decrease, while in Farnborough, Hants, 111 job losses are likely to come as a result of a downturn in Harrier upgrade work over the next few years.
Kevin Taylor, managing director of Military Air Solutions, said: ‘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.’
Hugh Scullion, Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions’ (CSEU) general secretary, said: ‘The CSEU believes there is still an opportunity to extend production at the Woodford site with the government still to make a decision on whether to use the Nimrod platform to replace the current R1 fleet.
‘To this end, the CSEU shall be pressing the MoD to award this contract to the loyal workforce at Woodford.’
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