BAE to cut 3,000 jobs at Eurofighter Typhoon factory?

Union leaders have called for "urgent talks" with UK defence company BAE Systems following reports it is planning to cut 3,000 jobs.



The Sunday Telegraph says the cuts will be focused on BAE's military aircraft unit in Lancashire and East Yorkshire.

BAE has refused to comment on the reports but said it was reviewing its operations and would communicate with staff when the outcome became clear.

Union Unite said such a cut would be a "hammer blow" to the industry.

BAE is concerned about securing orders as countries cut their defence budgets.

In July, BAE blamed military spending cuts for a 12% drop in half-year profits.

Unite said it wanted to clarify which sites would be affected and would press for redundancies to be voluntary.

"These job losses will be a hammer blow to the UK defence industry, which is already reeling with the consequences of the government's 'buy off the shelf' policy," said Ian Waddell, Unite's national officer for aerospace.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy called for a fast response from ministers.

"The defence industry is vital to the UK, supporting both our forces on the frontline and the wider UK economy," he said.

The Ministry of Defence said it had no comment.

BAE Systems currently employs just under 100,000 staff globally, of which 40,000 are in the UK.

BAE Systems confirms plans to cut nearly 3,000 jobs

Defence giant BAE Systems has confirmed that it is cutting almost 3,000 jobs at sites across the country, mainly in its military aircraft division.

The firm ended days of speculation by giving details of a huge redundancy programme, saying it needed to maintain competitiveness.

Ian King, BAE chief executive, said in a statement that the company must "ensure its long-term future".

Union leaders said staff were "distraught and tearful" at the news.

BAE employs 40,000 people in the UK, and 100,000 worldwide, and the biggest job cuts will be at sites in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The Brough factory, in East Yorkshire, will lose 900 jobs from its 1,300-strong workforce.

At Samlesbury, Lancashire, 565 jobs will go from the 3,970-strong workforce.

At Warton, Lancashire, 843 posts will be lost among 6,537 staff.

Among other plants affected are operations in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, and Essex.

Most of the cuts will be made in BAE's military aircraft division, which is being affected by a slowdown in orders for the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft.