800 Broughton Airbus Jobs Axed - Comment from Eleanor Burnham

4.27.38pm GMT Thu 1st Mar 2007

Eleanor Burnham AM has expressed her concern and sympathy for the 800 workers facing redundancy at the Broughton Airbus plant in North Wales.

Following months of speculation, the company has announced 800 staffer and contract jobs will go from its Broughton site. However, fears for the future of the company in the UK continue as the value of the dollar drops and delays hamper the delivery of the A380 superjumbo.

Ms Burnham said: "My absolute sympathy goes out to the workers and families who will be affected by these redundancies.

"Morale at the Broughton site has been severely damaged in past months. I feel that the company have really let their employees down by keeping such uncertainty over the future of the plant hanging over their heads.

"We need to ensure that the long-term future of the Broughton site is secured, and that employees are not left in the dark, as work is currently split between the UK, France and Germany."

Ms Burnham was supported by Welsh Liberal Democrat Enterprise, Innovation and Networks spokesperson Kirsty Williams, who said: Yesterday we thought 1,500 jobs could be lost in North Wales, today we are told it will be 800. I feel that the company would have done better by al concerned if they had clarified their position in the first place.

"I would expect the Enterprise Minister to be in close contact with the firm, and to have ensured structures are able to be quickly put in place to support the workers if the worst should happen.

Ms Burnham added: "We will be seeking Andrew Davies' assurances on this and Broughton's future at the earliest possible opportunity."

Notes/nodiadau:

• Around 7,000 people work at the factory in Broughton, Flintshire, which makes wings for Airbus aircraft. The company has been struggling recently after failing to meet delivery times on its A380 'superjumbo' airliner.

• Today 800 job cuts were announced at the Broughton site.

• A further 8,000 jobs are expected to be lost from Airbus' other European factories.

Ends/diwedd