Union dismay at Kinloss cuts
15th January 2010
Unite, the UK's largest union, has reacted with dismay today
(Friday, 15 January) over the impending redundancies of 108 skilled
aerospace jobs at RAF Kinloss, Scotland.
Three hundred contract workers are currently employed by
aerospace contractors Cobham, at the Kinloss base, providing a
range of skilled services from engineering to general maintenance
of the Kinloss operation.
The cutbacks have been prompted by the imminent withdrawal of
the Nimrod MR2 aircraft in March - 12 months earlier than planned.
With the full introduction of the new Nimrod MRA4 delayed until
2012, the 18 month gap in providing services will hit the local
workforce hard.
Lyn Turner, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The loss
of over 100 skilled jobs at RAF Kinloss is a hammer blow for the
workers affected and to the local economy.
“We are extremely disappointed given that the prospect of these
workers, many of whom are local residents with families to support,
being able to redeploy their niche skills elsewhere into the local
economy are next to nothing. RAF Kinloss is a major generator of
economic activity in the Morayshire region. However, it is in an
isolated location and the local economy needs it to be operating at
maximum capacity.
“In a time of great economic difficulty, the 18 month shortfall
between the withdrawal of the MR2 Nimrod and the introduction of
the new MRA4 is a blunder that will only impact negatively on the
jobs, skills and the prosperity of this workforce and region. We
would ask the government to review their position urgently.”
ENDS
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