A national e-petition has been launched this morning by Unite and GMB BAE Systems workers in support of 3,000 BAE Systems workers who face redundancy. You will recall the news on this issue breaking during Conference week.
The e-petition can be found at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/18283
The e-petition can be found at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/18283
Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy and Shadow Business Minister Ian Lucas issued the following quote on the day the news broke:
''This is a body blow to UK manufacturing. There is never a good time to lose your job but now is an awfully hard time for workers and families. This will have a devastating impact throughout the supply chain and on the communities and families who rely on these factories.
"The whole country will want to know that the Government and the company are doing all they can to provide support.
"The combination of international economic insecurity and falling demand due to defence cuts means that manufacturing in the UK is struggling. We need an urgent and comprehensive response from ministers.
"This Tory-led Government do not have an industrial strategy at the time when it is most needed. We have seen with Sheffield Forgemasters, Bombardier in Derby and now defence industrial jobs a pattern of ministerial ambivalence to the future of British manufacturing. We need a plan of action to retain these key, advanced skills in the UK economy and to provide some certainty for industry. The defence industry is vital to ensuring the UK's historic manufacturing base is strong and sustainable.
"The irony of allies of Liam Fox claiming he has balanced the defence budget on the day 3,000 people lose their jobs will not be lost on the defence community. Hubris, on today of all days, will not help anyone."
''This is a body blow to UK manufacturing. There is never a good time to lose your job but now is an awfully hard time for workers and families. This will have a devastating impact throughout the supply chain and on the communities and families who rely on these factories.
"The whole country will want to know that the Government and the company are doing all they can to provide support.
"The combination of international economic insecurity and falling demand due to defence cuts means that manufacturing in the UK is struggling. We need an urgent and comprehensive response from ministers.
"This Tory-led Government do not have an industrial strategy at the time when it is most needed. We have seen with Sheffield Forgemasters, Bombardier in Derby and now defence industrial jobs a pattern of ministerial ambivalence to the future of British manufacturing. We need a plan of action to retain these key, advanced skills in the UK economy and to provide some certainty for industry. The defence industry is vital to ensuring the UK's historic manufacturing base is strong and sustainable.
"The irony of allies of Liam Fox claiming he has balanced the defence budget on the day 3,000 people lose their jobs will not be lost on the defence community. Hubris, on today of all days, will not help anyone."
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