PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
05 Nov 09. Ruag warns 2,000 jobs may be lost through export ban. Swiss defence group Ruag has warned that up to 2,000 jobs – almost one-third of its total workforce – could be lost if the country’s electorate back a popular initiative that would ban the national export of defence materiel. The vote on the initiative ‘For a Ban on War Material Exports’ will take place on 29 November. (Source: Jane’s)
PERSONNEL
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
13 Nov 09. On his recent visit (Thursday 12 November) to a Defence Support Group (DSG) site, the MOD’s top civil servant, Sir Bill Jeffrey presented five workers from DSG’s Bovington and Donnington sites with campaign medals for their work supporting operations in Afghanistan. This presentation took place during Sir Bill’s visit to DSG’s Donnington site where he saw at first hand the work DSG is doing to support current operations overseas. Those receiving their medals volunteered for deployment to the front line to work on the critical equipment needed by their colleagues in the Armed Forces currently engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan. For many of these medal recipients this was not their first visit to the front line where they are involved in upgrading and modifying armoured vehicles. Despite the testing conditions in which they live and work, all are enthusiastic about their time spent alongside their uniformed colleagues and all of them feel proud to have played a pivotal role in helping better equip our Armed Forces. Speaking yesterday, following his presentation of the medals, Sir Bill praised the men for their contributions and said; “The work you have done, and continue to do, is absolutely essential in supporting your colleagues in the Armed Forces and is literally saving lives on the front line. You should be immensely proud of your invaluable contributions. The medals you are receiving today are a token of gratitude, not only from those for whom this equipment is vital on battlefield operations, but also from me, the Chief of the Defence Staff and everyone in MOD who recognise the invaluable work you are doing. This is yet another superb example of the crucial role civilians play in supporting current operations.”
Adding his own words of congratulations, DSG’s Chief Executive, Archie Hughes had this to say; “Being recognised for all your efforts and hard work in this way underlines your value to DSG and MOD. The esteem in which you are all held by everyone in DSG for volunteering to work in what can be dangerous and life-threatening situations cannot be measured. You are all a credit to DSG and you have our grateful thanks for everything you have done and continue to do in supporting the UK’s Armed Forces.” The five workers receiving their medals were Jim Rowe, 27 from Telford; Jim Elgar, 42 from Wareham; Swanage’s James Chadwick, 26; Mike Russell from Weymouth and Tony Pavey, 45 from Portland.
13 Nov 09. Celebrating this week the apprentice skills that have kept the Armed Forces’ armoured vehicles at peak performance for over sixty years at the Defence Support Group’s Donnington workshops near Telford, Shropshire were the latest graduates of a scheme that is turning out the next generation of highly skilled engineers and mechanics. Graduating at a prize-giving event held in the museum of RAF Cosford (yesterday, 12 November) were 20 apprentices who were praised for their hard work and commitment by DSG’s Chief Executive, Archie Hughes who is himself a product of an engineering apprenticeship. The 2009 graduates completed a three-year training package at Donnington as mechanical and vehicle electrical apprentices during which they have worked on the Army’s fleet of armoured vehicles, including the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle and the tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). As with previous years, most of this year’s outtake will now choose to continue working at DSG Donnington, returning accident or battle da