Scale of Airbus cuts revealed with 1,435 jobs proposed to be lost at Broughton

85% of UK job cuts at Airbus are set to be at the Broughton facility in North Wales.

In a statement Airbus said it has “opened a ‘national dialogue’ with social partners in the UK in the frame of its COVID-19 adaptation plan” saying “As part of these discussions, Airbus has confirmed the need to adjust its workforce in the UK by approximately 1,700 positions, with the following split: Broughton: 1,435, Filton: 295”

This afternoon Minister for Economy and North Wales Ken Skates reacted to the news saying: “The announcement that 1,435 jobs are to be lost at Broughton confirms our fears following Airbus’ announcement earlier this week. It is a huge blow for the region and the industry.

“My thoughts are with all those affected – the workers, their families and wider community. I have set out the action we will take to support Airbus, the aerospace sector and supply chain. We are working with all our partners, across government and cross-border. I will leave no stone unturned to support this industry which is the lifeblood of North East Wales.

“All governments must work together and we are ready to work with the UK Government. I repeat my call to them that immediate and radical action now needs to be taken to secure the future of the aerospace sector.”

Plaid Cymru North Wales Llyr Gruffydd MS said, “I’ve just been notified that Airbus is proposing 1,435 job losses at Broughton. More than I had expected. This is utterly gut-wrenching news.

“My thoughts are with the workers, their families and the community at Broughton. I stand with them and will do everything I can to support them in the wake of this devastating blow.

“Both Welsh and UK Governments must now step up to the plate and do everything possible to retain these jobs and others throughout the supply chain.”

Welsh Conservative Russell George MS – the Shadow Minister for Business, Economy, and Infrastructure said, “The Covid-19 crisis has seen a massive reduction in the number of aircraft in operation over past months and, we might expect, for the foreseeable future. This has had an impact on new orders for aircraft, not just for Airbus, but its main competitor, Boeing, and others.

“Broughton has been shown to be more susceptible to this unprecedented downturn in the aviation industry because it supplies wings for the civil market, whereas Filton supplies the military sector. This is a devastating blow for not just Broughton, but also North Wales and across the border in England where some of these employees will live. There will also be significant impact upon those in the supply chain for the Broughton operation of Airbus.

“I echo what my colleague Paul Davies MS – the Leader of the Opposition in the Welsh Parliament – yesterday pledged, that he and the Welsh Conservatives will do all we can to deal with the impact of this and a number of recent major job losses in Wales, including working cross-party with the Labour-led Welsh Government.”

Peter Hughes, Unite Wales Regional Secretary said this afternoon: “The level of job losses planned for Broughton are far larger than we originally anticipated and can only bring into crystal clear focus how urgent the need for UK Government intervention now is. Welsh Government have committed to doing everything they can, but the financial intervention that is now required to support jobs at Broughton can only come from Westminster.

“Our calls for Boris Johnson’s Government to intervene in the crisis that is engulfing the aerospace sector have so far fallen on deaf ears. They can’t hide anymore, the voices of thousands of workers and their families from across North Wales and North West England are screaming for help. Be in no doubt the governments of France and Germany are already acting to support their aerospace workers. If the UK Government does not do the same then our countries position as a world leader in the aerospace sector will be consigned to history”.

Daz Reynolds, Unite convenor at Airbus Broughton commented: “Our members at Broughton are devastated to hear of the scale of the job losses for our site. We are a world class workforce who have built up Broughton to be one of the best manufacturing sites in Europe. The workforce recognises the enormous challenges facing Airbus and are prepared to look at every avenue available to mitigate the proposed job losses.

“Unite will do everything it can to support our members following this desperate news. Our position remains that we will not accept one single compulsory redundancy at this site.”