Cuts at BAE won't affect North staff

Sep 16 2009 By Adrian Pearson, The Journal

DEFENCE giant BAE Systems has promised no jobs will be lost on Tyneside as a result of cost-cutting measures.

Bosses at BAE have announced they will shed 1,116 jobs and close an aircraft factory in Cheshire as they continue with changes to their aircraft division. The firm said it does not expect any further jobs to go in Tyneside, where manufacturing staff produce armoured jeeps.

But union bosses speaking for staff at the Newcastle plant on Scotswood Road say 50 North East job losses announced earlier this year could be repeated if the Government does not act soon to award new contracts.

Workers at the former Vickers factory are thought to be in a good position to secure big contracts building the Army’s Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) vehicles and upgrading the Warrior combat vehicles and subsequent contracts.

But ministers have been told these jobs are at risk if ministers do not commission a fleet of new vehicles for the Army before the next General Election.

Bill Green, regional officer for the union Unite, said that while Tyneside would avoid any job losses from this announcement, staff were anxious to secure future manufacturing contracts to prevent further redundancies.

Mr Green said: "Obviously we have concerns about what could happen in the future. We want to follow up the FRES contracts and preserve the manufacturing base here in Tyneside.

"But despite the potential for the MoD to award big contracts and safeguard jobs there is a real risk that any delay will see jobs go.

"We are soon going to start a lobbying campaign in which we will urge ministers and local MPs to act now to preserve the manufacturing base and give assurances of timetables and locations for military jeep contracts."