Tour de Fox: BAe workers cycle to Manchester to urge Liam Fox to
support their jobs
4 October 2011
WHEN: 9.00am - 9.30am, 5 October 2011
WHERE: St Peters Square, Manchester, M2 3DE
Workers from BAe Systems in Brough who are facing
redundancy are cycling 110 miles to the Tory party conference to
urge defence secretary Liam Fox to support the 3,000 highly skilled
workers whose jobs are at risk.
The workers will arrive at St Peters Square, Manchester between
9.00am and 9.30am tomorrow (5 October) and will be greeted a
delegation of BAe Systems’ workers who are pressing for an
emergency meeting with Liam Fox to discuss ways to retain the
workers' advanced manufacturing skills.
Last week, the advanced manufacturer BAe Systems announced 3,000
jobs cuts across the country.
Unite is calling on the MoD to intervene by:
- Abandoning its buy off-the-shelf policy which means UK
taxpayers money will be spent on American equipment instead of
supporting UK jobs
- Pressing ahead with radar developments which would make the
Typhoon jet more exportable
- Signing off the contract for unmanned aerial vehicles and
placing it with the UK defence industry, including BAE Systems
Unite national officer Ian Waddell said: "BAe workers' are at the
pinnacle of their profession. They will be here in Manchester today
(5 Oct) to urge Liam Fox to support their skills and jobs.
"The government cannot sit on its hands and allow these highly
skilled jobs to disappear. The UK's defence industry risks losing
the critical mass it needs to maintain its reputation as a world
leader in defence manufacturing."
ENDS
BAe workers will be available to interview at St Peters Square.
For more information contact Karen Viquerat on 07768 931 316 or
Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
