Aerospace group BAE is considering “sizeable” job cuts after
order levels in its defence division fell short of expectations.
The group has not made a decision about how many jobs it
will shed and hopes to achieve the losses through voluntary redundancies and
transfers to other divisions.
BAE – formerly British Aerospace – says the cuts will come
across the country.
Last year the firm announced 4,500 job losses as a result of
its £6 billion purchase of Marconi Defence Systems.
Sir Ken Jackson, Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical
Union general secretary, said: “This is very worrying news, but we need to
clarify the extent of any job losses. We will work very hard to try and
minimise the impact on jobs.”
The bulk of the losses are likely to be caused by a drop in
orders for its Hawk trainer jet, which is manufactured at Brough, West
Yorkshire.
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By Richard Staines
