• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Excelitas Qioptiq banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Defence Engage
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2023

BAE SYSTEMS BITES BACK

January 23, 2003 by

BAE SYSTEMS BITES BACK – ANNOUNCES JOB LOSSES IN ITS SEA SYSTEMS BUSINESSES

21 Jan 03. The dogfight between BAE SYSTEMS and the MoD continued this week with BAE retaliating following reports that Geoff Hoon apparently favoured the Thales bid by referring to BAE as no longer a UK company. Certainly there are little signs of a rapprochement between the two organisations with BAE using the job card at this time. However to link these losses as political is viewed in some quarters as overkill, they would have occurred in any event due to contract delays and final deliveries.

Certainly this announcement has brought the unions and particularly Jack Dromey behind BAE and highlights a genuine concern within the unions about UK Industrial policy as we highlighted last week.

With the Type 45 contract going to Scotstoun in Glasgow and the Astute contract being rumoured as stalled pending design changes there are few job opportunities in the Barrow area with Oxley and Glaxo being two other large employers in the area. The other alternatives are the dole, call centres or fast food, a damning indictment to a workforce steeped in technical excellence going back to the 19th Century.

The details of the job losses are 700 job losses in Barrow-in-Furness, 265 in its shipyards on the Clyde, and 50 from its Underwater Systems operation at Waterlooville, Hampshire. Additionally, the company announces the loss of up to 30 posts at Farnborough, Hampshire, arising from a review of the Astute management organisation. All of these will be taking effect progressively over the next several months. In accordance with normal company practice, BAE SYSTEMS will be entering into consultations with employees and Trade Union representatives.

Additionally, BAE SYSTEMS announces that it intends for Barrow, supported by Farnborough, to continue to develop as a world class Submarine Centre of Excellence within the company, for current new and future submarine programmes. As well, the company now plans to consolidate its work on the Type 45 Destroyer build programme into the BAE SYSTEMS shipyards on the Clyde. This proposal is currently under consideration by the UK MoD.

The principal reason for the shipbuilding job losses is the very significant drop in workload the shipyards are experiencing, with no prospect of an increase on a scale large enough to compensate within at least the next four years, despite the considerable efforts of the company to find fill-in work. A similar, but less severe, situation exists in BAE SYSTEMS Underwater Systems following delays in award of various contracts.

In 2002, BAE SYSTEMS undertook a series of actions, in consultation with the UK Ministry of Defence, to address the fundamental issues facing its Sea Sector business.

Since this process began there have been some notable positive results:
Two Auxiliary Oiler vessels delivered to the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Both ships are performing well.
A programme established with the UK MoD to ensure the entry into service of the Landing Platform Dock ships Albion and Bulwark, progressing well, with the first of class now successfully through its initial Sea Trials.
Six Landing Craft Utility vessels delivered – currently undergoing trials with the Royal Marines and the remainder very close to completion.
With Swan Hunter, construction of the Landing Ship Dock Auxiliary (Bay Class) vessels has commenced
A highly successful build programme of Offshore Patrol Vessels for an export customer is nearing completion.
The 200th Spearfish torpedo has been delivered to the Royal Navy.

In order to continue to succeed, BAE SYSTEMS Sea Systems must resolve two entirely separate areas that require continuing attention: the Astute and Type 45 Programmes and the issue of workforce size caused by unacceptably lengthy gaps in workload.

For the avoidance of doubt, today’s announcement has no connection with the company’s ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Defence

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • SPECTRA
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
  • CISION logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • businesswire logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • ssafa logo
  • Atkins
  • IEE
  • EXFOR logo
  • KME logo
  • DSEi
  • sibylline logo
  • Team Thunder logo
  • Commando Spirit - Blended Scoth Whisy
  • Comtech logo
Hilux Military Raceday Novemeber 2023 Chepstow

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

    January 26, 2023
    Read more
  • EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES

    January 20, 2023
    Read more
  • MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

    January 20, 2023
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2023.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT