David continues campaign for Brough workers as BAe ends consultation
David appeared on local radio stations BBC Radio Humberside and KCFM, and BBC’s Look North news programme, to continue the fight to save local Brough jobs.
As BAe announced the end of its ‘consultation period’, David and Alan Johnson- MP for Hull West and Hessle- wrote to Ian King, chief executive of the company, to say that there is a special case for consultation to be extended in the circumstances. They argue that unions have not had sufficient time to digest information given to them in a meeting, regarding the business case for the Brough site, on Monday.
A Hull Daily Mail article on the situation can be found below:
HUNDREDS of workers are set to lose their jobs after defence giant BAE Systems announced the end of almost 100 years of manufacturing at Brough.
Brough director Jim Welsh told the workforce the campaign to save manufacturing at the site had failed during a series of meetings yesterday.
Last night, a BAE spokesman said the company has “concluded consultation on the business proposal to potentially end manufacturing at Brough”. He said: “This is due to no viable and practical alternative being found, despite the extensive and meaningful consultation that has taken place with trade unions and executive representatives.
“The company, during the next stage of consultation, will continue to focus on reducing the number of redundancies and, as far as possible, explore all opportunities to mitigate the potential job losses.”
Union bosses have criticised the company’s decision.
Ian Gent, full-time staff union convenor, said: “We will be challenging that decision.”
Roy Cartwright, full-time union works convenor, said: “We are disappointed the company has not fulfilled its consultation obligations over the business case and has not answered all our questions.”
Workers leaving the plant at the end of their shifts last night 1
said their only hope was a new owner.
Steve Turpin and his wife Maggie, of Brough, have played major roles in the campaign to save the East Yorkshire site.
Father-of-five Mr Turpin said: “Our hope now comes from BAE selling the site and getting other firms interested.
“But we will keep fighting to the end. People are realistic but time is running out.”
Jim Hague, an aircraft engineer for 35 years, said: “We have been beaten with a stick so many times now that it just doesn’t hurt anymore.
“It is extremely disappointing.”
However, Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson and Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis are refusing to give up the fight to save manufacturing and the 845 jobs.
In a letter to the chief executive of BAE Systems, Ian King, the MPs said there is a special case to continue consultation and that a meeting had been offered with Business Secretary Vince Cable.
They argue unions had not been given time to digest information given to them during a meeting on the business case on Monday.
“We have long doubted BAE’s commitment to the consultation process,” the MPs wrote.
“If consultation is not recommenced, we still believe this meeting is necessary, firstly, to clear the air and, secondly, to discuss what the company, the Government and local politicians can do to ensure these highly skilled workers continue to contribute to the regional and national economy at this important manufacturing site.”
The company announced it was ending the consultation process 155 days after it began in September with the announcement that almost 900 jobs would be lost from the Brough site.
The initial consultation period was due to end on Boxing Day but the company agreed to an extension.
One of the theories behind the company’s abrupt decision to cease consultation is that it wants to begin the transition process, paving the way for Hawk work to be relocated to Lancashire amid claims an order from Saudi Arabia is imminent.
According to sources at the site, money has been made available for a number of so-called long-lead items, such as engines, and an order is believed to have been placed for a number of wing-sets.
Both are indications that a Hawk order could be on the cards, which would reopen the debate about retaining manufacturing at Brough if the work is not moved off-site.