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BAE to cut possibly more than 1,000 UK shipyard jobs | BAE to cut possibly more than 1,000 UK shipyard jobs |
(35 minutes later) | |
BAE Systems is to cut potentially more than 1,000 jobs from three of its UK shipyards at Govan and Scotstoun in Glasgow and at Portsmouth. | |
The BBC has learned that major job losses at the yards will be announced by the company later this week. | The BBC has learned that major job losses at the yards will be announced by the company later this week. |
Some of the jobs being lost may be offset by a contract to build the new Type 26 Global Combat Ship. | Some of the jobs being lost may be offset by a contract to build the new Type 26 Global Combat Ship. |
BAE Systems, however, has yet to announce which of its UK shipyards will be chosen to carry out the work. | BAE Systems, however, has yet to announce which of its UK shipyards will be chosen to carry out the work. |
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the announcement by BAE Systems is expected on Thursday morning and will be followed later that day by a Commons statement from the defence secretary. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the announcement by BAE Systems is expected on Thursday morning and will be followed later that day by a Commons statement from the defence secretary. |
He understands that BAE's Govan shipyard will not close despite the fact that the possibility has been discussed behind the scenes in recent weeks. | He understands that BAE's Govan shipyard will not close despite the fact that the possibility has been discussed behind the scenes in recent weeks. |
He said a well-placed source had told him that the UK government was "acutely conscious of the politics of the Clyde" ahead of next year's referendum on Scottish independence. | He said a well-placed source had told him that the UK government was "acutely conscious of the politics of the Clyde" ahead of next year's referendum on Scottish independence. |
The job losses, he said, will result from the completion of work on the building of two new aircraft carriers and from a huge increase in the costs of that project. | |
It emerged on Monday that the UK government is planning to announce that it will need to spend an extra £800m on the carriers, taking the total costs to more than £6bn - double the original estimate. | |
Beyond the carriers there are currently no new orders on the books of the BAE's Glasgow yards at Govan and Scotstoun. | |
Any job losses, however, may not take effect immediately because some work on the aircraft carriers is planned until 2015. | |
'Significant tension' | |
There are currently 3,200 people employed by BAE across Govan and Scotstoun, and 1,200 employed in shipbuilding at Portsmouth. | |
Jamie Webster, convenor of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions at the Govan yard, said he wanted the jobs issue clarified. | |
He told the BBC: "I do not want to speculate until we get full transparency from BAE Systems and the Ministry of Defence over what they have planned for Govan and Scotstoun shipyards. | |
"The tension in the yard has been significant and it has been difficult for the workforce. They just want to know what is going on. | |
"Tomorrow will be a long day waiting for an announcement from the company. | |
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said he was "seeking urgent clarity on the future for both Govan and Scotstoun". | |
"We have been in dialogue for some time with BAE Systems on the issues surrounding the future of the Clyde shipyards," he said. | |
"We are awaiting the outcome of BAE's discussions with the Ministry of Defence, and are very alert to the situation concerning both yards." |