BAE Woodford factory closing

[Richard from Rotterdam]

from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8256404.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


BAE Systems plans 1,116 job cuts


BAE employees unsurprised by job cut announcement

Defence giant BAE Systems says it is planning to cut 1,116 jobs and close an aircraft factory in Cheshire.
The firm said it aimed to shut the Woodford plant at the end of 2012, with the loss of 630 jobs.
A further 205 positions are to go at BAE's Samlesbury site, and 170 at its Warton facility, both in Lancashire.
In addition, 111 jobs will go in Farnborough. BAE said the planned cuts followed "a detailed review of its current and future business levels".
'Commercial matter'
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) said the news was "bitterly disappointing".

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 customers' requirements for the future
Kevin Taylor, BAE's managing director of military air solutions
"The CSEU will work constructively with the company to keep redundancies to a minimum and ensure no compulsory redundancies," said the union's general secretary Hugh Scullion.
"The CSEU believe there is still an opportunity to extend production at the Woodford site."
BAE said the Woodford site was likely to close at the end of 2012, following the completion of its contract to build the latest version of the RAF's Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.
"It has been clear since 2003 that the Woodford site had little future beyond the end of the Nimrod MRA4 production, and the workforce has been kept informed since that time," said the company.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that while "job losses are always to be regretted and are most unfortunate for those affected", BAE's announcement was "a commercial matter for the company".
Kevin Taylor, BAE's managing director of military air solutions, said the company would work with employees "to explore ways of mitigating these potential job losses".
"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 customers' requirements for the future."
The news comes five months after the firm said it was trimming 500 jobs and closing sites in Telford, Leeds and Guildford.
BAE revealed in July that its pension deficit had widened sharply to £3.1bn in the six months to 30 June.