Union dismay over Airbus job cuts

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Talks are being held, but it is understood that the jobs will be cut at the firm's plant in Broughton, North Wales.

Unite's national officer Bernie Hamilton said: "Unite is demanding that Airbus does everything possible to avoid compulsory cuts for the permanent and agency staff."

He continued: "Airbus must keep to their commitments, agreed after 9/11, which mean that, before the company considers compulsory redundancies, they must first bring outsourced work in-house, reduce overtime to a minimum and seek volunteers from the entire workforce.

"There are 1,400 temporary workers on the site. We will not allow these workers to be sacrificed."

North-east Wales has been badly hit by the recession in recent months, with jobs being axed by Corus at Shotton and by Toyota on Deeside.

Airbus said: "As part of a review of its business and manpower requirements, Airbus in the UK has asked Blue Arrow Managed Services to look at reducing the size of its complementary labour force at Airbus' Broughton facility, by approximately 250.

"Representatives from Airbus in the UK, Blue Arrow Managed Services and Unite have been, and will continue to be, working closely together, in the coming months, to manage this situation effectively and responsibly, with the shared objective of avoiding compulsory redundancies of Blue Arrow employees wherever possible.

"Ongoing discussions on flexibility measures, which began in February, will continue. Whilst the tri-partite consultation process is under way, including ongoing briefings to both Blue Arrow and Airbus employees, there will be no further media statements made."

Welsh Assembly shadow economy minister David Melding said: "Airbus is the premier manufacturer in Wales and has set standards of excellence on training and skills development. That such a company is reported to be considering this move shows the depth of the crisis the Welsh economy is now facing."