Tit

having re-read my post it doesnt read like it was meant to, and like i said i have every sympathy with anyone who loses a job.

I meant to say have the BAE unions sold there staff short.

For as long as i can remember the threat of redundancies has been at that site on probably an annual basis, have they accepted the right sort of contracts or have they forced the government to give them deals just to keep the place going instead of securing the more lucrative contracts.

Given the decline in the industry and more reliance on modern technoloy and more up to date production methods then future job losses were always going to be a possibilty, i know of friends who are glad they got out when they could, yet others have hung on as they thought they had jobs for life in a very well paid industry.

Been in this situation 3 times in the last 5 years myself so i know what im talking about.

I have been made redundant from 2 jobs in the last few years in different industries - it's tough, so have every sympathy with those involved

Nice curve-ball Hutchie.

It's the unions fault now is it?

gutted for all the workers, my husband was very fortunate to be offered early retirement 10 year ago, even though he was only 52. It was the best thing he ever did, he worked there for 30 years and the moral was very low at the time he went. It got worse over the years, a lot of the problem has always been bad management, they only find things from the media and newspapers which is not good. I still have family and friends there and feel really sorry for them all. Good luck to them.

Good post I agree, as someone who got out of the Council before all the mayhem started there I see your point!

Gutted for everyone there, especially those on the shop floor. I was lucky enough to transfer to Typhoon maintenance during the last set of redundancies.
Sadly the writing has been on the wall for a long time, it was always a case of when rather than 'if'.
A very sad day though for a site with a lot of history.

It is all down to bad management. Bet they are regretting selling their stake in Airbus a few years ago and putting all their eggs in the military and arms basket. airbus and the main share holder EADS (franco German company) are now experiencing record orders and profits. Real shame for all involved. Always the regular Joe who bares the brunt.

Sorry to here about the losses
we in this Lancashire area will be in the same position mate
i dont work for BAE
But there is a factory only 6 miles away which now doubt will be affected,the factory i work in makes cable for BAE
so at some it could possibilly affect myself aswell
Very Sad News

Unfortunately the government and company pension schemes are making even the choice of early retirement a thing of the past, for normal working folk.

So it's the unions Fault now people have a choice to join a Union
But the Coalition with all they cuts walk away Scot free
These people were warned about what would happen if the cuts
were brought in.A decade of skilled workers will be lost
But the rich get richer and the poor get sh-- kick out of them
Voting Tory = they look after they own and the other lot have help them
The blame lay with this Government Jobs Crime Education Health the lot
The poor Families hit hardest by Coalition