Aerospace giant GKN has confirmed it is cutting 64 jobs from its aircraft-wing factory in Bristol as the industry continues to battle with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The redundancies at GKN Western Approach, which employs more than 300 people, comes two months after the company opened a voluntary severance scheme for workers.
The business said it would be focusing on reducing the workforce through “voluntary means” first, including staff leaving anyway, employees choosing voluntary redundancy and not replacing people who are retiring.
“Over recent months, during this unprecedented period for the industry, GKN Aerospace has used a range of measures to support its employees and protect as many permanent jobs as possible," a spokesman said.
“We continue to manage the ongoing impact on a site-by-site basis and, following customer demand reductions at our Western Approach facility, we are now in consultation with employee representatives to reduce roles at the site.
“We will work closely with our employees and their representatives to manage this process in the most appropriate way, focusing on voluntary means wherever possible.”
GKN said the employees who are made redundant will be given CV writing workshops, interview advice and training, and time off for interviews.
But union Unite is calling on the company to consider all options to eradicate or mitigate the proposed job losses, including the possibility of introducing temporary short-term working.
Unite regional officer Matt Allen said: “The announcement of the redundancies will come as a bitter blow to a highly skilled and dedicated workforce.
“Unite is urging GKN to work with it and to leave no stone unturned in examining all options to avoid job losses and this must include the option of short-time working."
Unite is also urging the government to extend the furlough scheme for the aviation and aerospace industry following growing fears companies will feel compelled to make redundancies when it ends.
The union has been arguing that in sectors which have been severely affected by Covid-19 but could see demand return to pre-pandemic levels in future, the scheme should be extended.
Mr Allen added: “This announcement is far from an isolated case. It is clear the government needs to step in and bring in short-time working support to the UK’s world class aerospace sector to assist it through the current crisis.
“Short-time working schemes are being used in Germany and France to save jobs, skills and their industries.
“A failure to act would be simply unforgivable, as it will result in thousands of needless redundancies, damaging lives and impacting on the local and national economy."
Other measures being sought by the union also include the introduction of national insurance and income tax holidays for workers who are working at 50 per cent reduced hours.
