Axe falls on 130 jobs at BAe factory

Defence giant BAe Systems said 133 staff at its site in Brough, near Hull, faced compulsory redundancy as a result of changes in the defence programme and the outcome of the UK Strategic Defence and Security Review.

The firm said around 2,000 workers will leave voluntarily or move to other jobs in the company, but there will be 450 compulsory lay-offs at several UK military sites, including Brough, Woodford, near Manchester, Farnborough in Hampshire, RAF Kinloss in Scotland, and RAF Cottesmore in Lincolnshire.

Last September it said 212 jobs were at risk in Brough, but 79 of those losses have now been “mitigated” through voluntary redundancies and transfers to other BAe Systems sites.

A spokesman said: “Regrettably we propose to make the remaining employees compulsory redundant unless additional mitigation opportunities arise. The workforce was informed on Wednesday, March 16, that a selection process for compulsory redundancy is under way.”

Unions blamed the Government for the losses. Unite national officer Ian Waddell said: “The blame for these job losses lies firmly at the door of Defence Secretary Liam Fox and the rest of the Tory-led Government.”

About 1,500 people are currently employed at Brough.