23/3/2009

A downturn in orders at the Airbus factory at Broughton in Flintshire is to result 250 job cuts, unions have been told.

The move shows the depth of the crisis the Welsh economy is now facing, said Shadow Minister for the Economy David Melding today.

Officials have been in talks with management at the factory, which employs over 6,000 people, and say the company hopes most, if not all the cuts, can be through voluntary redundancies.

A union spokesman said the factory is now making only half the orders it had anticipated for the Hawker jet.

David Melding said: "This is a particularly grim indication of where we are economically.

"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."