Questions on Rolls-Royce jobs cutback

Nov 21 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

BOSSES at Rolls-Royce yesterday unveiled plans to cut 2,000 jobs, but said it was too early to say whether the 400 staff at its aeroplane parts plant in Sunderland would be affected.

The aerospace giant said it was axing 140 jobs at one of its plants in Derby as part of a programme which, it said, was the result of current economic “uncertainties”.

Rolls-Royce employs 39,000 people worldwide, 60% of whom are based in the UK. It said the 2,000 jobs would be lost across its worldwide operations.

The announcement is the first stage in a more general programme aimed at matching the group’s capacity more closely with the expected load in its facilities, say the company.