Budget cuts blamed for Rolls-Royce job losses

The firm is consulting on axing positions at the Ansty site near Coventry in the Midlands, according to Unite.

The announcement puts 378 jobs at risk, the union warned, adding that staff were informed of the company’s plans in an internal memo.

Unite has further claimed Rolls-Royce is proposing to shut the plant in the next few years, but has pinned the blame for the company’s decision on the Government for what it called “short-sighted” cuts to the national defence budget.

Ian Waddell, Unite’s national officer for aerospace and shipbuilding, said: “The blame for the loss of these highly skilled jobs in the key defence sector lies with the Government and its short-sighted determination to ram through massive spending cuts in the defence budget.

“Once again, Unite calls for a coherent defence industrial strategy to be drawn up as matter of urgency to safeguard jobs and a defence industry at which Britain excels.

“This is vital – otherwise more high-skilled jobs will be lost, perhaps forever.”

The plant employs about 800 people, refitting and repairing aeroplane and marine engines. Components for the company’s Trent series of civil aviation engines are also manufactured on-site.

A Rolls-Royce spokesman said: “We are in consultation with trade unions over reductions in our defence workforce at Ansty.

“We hope to achieve this without compulsory redundancies.”