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Airbus staff hold rally over cuts | Airbus staff hold rally over cuts |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Around 900 workers at the Airbus factory in Flintshire have staged a rally in Chester in protest at the expected loss of hundreds of jobs. | |
The plane maker is axing 10,000 posts across Europe over four years to cut its costs, with 1,600 going in the UK. | The plane maker is axing 10,000 posts across Europe over four years to cut its costs, with 1,600 going in the UK. |
Half the losses are expected at the Broughton site, which makes wings for the A380 superjumbo. | Half the losses are expected at the Broughton site, which makes wings for the A380 superjumbo. |
Airbus says its costs are far too high and must be reduced to speed up production and improve competitiveness. | Airbus says its costs are far too high and must be reduced to speed up production and improve competitiveness. |
Unions believe the job cuts will be shared equally between the 7,000 staff at Broughton and the Airbus plant at Filton near Bristol. | Unions believe the job cuts will be shared equally between the 7,000 staff at Broughton and the Airbus plant at Filton near Bristol. |
Around 400 people gathered in Chester town hall, while hundreds more were outside to listen to the meeting through loudspeakers. | |
Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami, one of the speakers at the "day of action," said: "We need a strong and united approach to this issue. | Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami, one of the speakers at the "day of action," said: "We need a strong and united approach to this issue. |
"The unions are leading a robust fight for long-term job security and I am proud to be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with so many skilled and loyal workers." | "The unions are leading a robust fight for long-term job security and I am proud to be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with so many skilled and loyal workers." |
Hamburg parade | Hamburg parade |
The meeting was also addressed by Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sergeant, and Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, who all pledged their support to maintaining a future for Broughton's workforce. | The meeting was also addressed by Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sergeant, and Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, who all pledged their support to maintaining a future for Broughton's workforce. |
Thousands of Airbus workers in France, Germany and Spain were also stopping work in a series of co-ordinated demonstrations. | Thousands of Airbus workers in France, Germany and Spain were also stopping work in a series of co-ordinated demonstrations. |
Up to 20,000 Airbus staff were expected to parade in Hamburg, home of the company's principal German plant. | Up to 20,000 Airbus staff were expected to parade in Hamburg, home of the company's principal German plant. |
Airbus expects the cutbacks to shave 5bn euros off its costs by 2010. | Airbus expects the cutbacks to shave 5bn euros off its costs by 2010. |
The firm has pledged not to enforce any compulsory redundancies, saying half the cuts will be made among temporary staff and sub-contractors. | The firm has pledged not to enforce any compulsory redundancies, saying half the cuts will be made among temporary staff and sub-contractors. |
In response to the workers' day of action, Airbus said its restructuring "lays the foundation to create a new Airbus, more efficient, fully integrated and supported by a network of partners. | In response to the workers' day of action, Airbus said its restructuring "lays the foundation to create a new Airbus, more efficient, fully integrated and supported by a network of partners. |
"It will allow Airbus to develop faster, produce at lower cost, share expenses and risks, and thus to better serve its customers." | "It will allow Airbus to develop faster, produce at lower cost, share expenses and risks, and thus to better serve its customers." |
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