Battle pledge as 900 BAE jobs cuts leave Yorkshire reeling

The company ended days of speculation by confirming that almost 3,000 jobs are to be axed across its operations. The biggest cuts will be at its plant in Brough, East Yorkshire, where staff were sent home angry and tearful yesterday after being told that almost 900 members of the 1,300-strong workforce were no longer needed.

BAE Systems chief executive Ian King said: “Our customers are facing huge pressures on their defence budgets and affordability has become an increasing priority. Our business needs to rise to this challenge to maintain its competitiveness and ensure its long-term future.”

Politicians and workers’ representatives attacked the firm for the way the grim news had leaked out over the past three days, saying staff had been treated “appallingly”.

Labour leader Ed Miliband told the party’s annual conference in Liverpool that BAE Systems had been “sold down the river” by the Government, which is cutting back on defence spending.

Workers spoke of being in “shock” and many said they were already looking for new jobs as the battle over the future of the Brough site began in earnest.

The Tory MP for Haltemprice and Howden, David Davis, and Alan Johnson, Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, both pledged to use the 90-day consultation period with unions and managers in exploring options for maintaining production at the plant.

Mr Davis said: “We want to see the numbers, we want to see why the decision has been made and we will be challenging this decision as far as we can.”

He described the workforce as “outstanding” and said they were worth fighting for but the MP, who was briefed by bosses at the site, warned that the company did not appear willing to alter its plans.

Unions could barely contain their anger and said they now had no option other than to fight the cuts after previously working with the firm to find a way forward.

Brough staff union convener Ian Gent said: “It’s an absolute disgrace the way they have treated good people on this site. A lot of people this morning on hearing the news were clearly distressed and tearful, and understandably so.

“We have co-operated with this company time after time to do the very best for this site, well this time they will see another side to us. We haven’t heard any reason why manufacturing should be moved from this site.”

The Unite union national officer, Ian Waddell, said: “After days of speculation and rumours, our worst fears have been confirmed.

“It’s a dark day for thousands of skilled men and women across the country and it is a dark day for British manufacturing.

“BAE Systems has dealt a hammer blow to the UK defence industry and Unite is determined to fight the cuts.”

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: “The economic prospects are bleak for families and communities affected by these job losses. They add to a jobless total already too high.”

Tony Hammond of the Prospect union said the cuts were a “grim reminder” that defence cut backs were still filtering through to industry, adding: “When the country is crying out for highly skilled specialists to help kick some life into the economy, BAE is being forced to make job cuts because of the coalition’s defence policies. The Government is sleepwalking through a defence skills crisis of its own making.”

The UK Independence Party Euro-MP for Yorkshire, Godfrey Bloom, who is also the party’s defence spokesman, said: “These job losses are an absolute tragedy, not just for my constituents in Brough, but across the UK.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “This news from BAE Systems will be a serious knock to the individuals and communities affected.

“My officials and the BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) local teams are already in touch with the company, local authorities and local enterprise partnerships to make sure that everything possible is done to help those affected at Brough, Warton, Samlesbury and other sites.”

The firm said most of the job cuts would be in its military aircraft division, which has been badly affected by a slowdown in orders for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet.

It confirmed it had started a consultation about ending manufacturing at the Brough site.