Jobs axe falls again at AWE (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Jobs axe falls again at AWE

2:00pm Sunday 9th May 2010 in

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MORE job losses have been announced at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

AWE bosses have confirmed that up to 100 jobs will be axed across the business as part of an ongoing restructuring programme.

However, they have declined to say where the axe is likely to fall. The Aldermaston and Burghfield AWE plants employ about 4,800 people.

The announcement came three days after AWE told The Gazette its bosses did not see the need for a further redundancy programme and it would be “in small numbers” if it were to happen.

AWE spokeswoman Rachel Whybrow said it was hoped the redundancies would be voluntary.

She said: “As the restructuring programme has continued, it has become clear that some further redundancies will be unavoidable.

“A process has begun to identify volunteers in the areas where reductions must be made.”

In October, news of potential redundancies surfaced and 50 posts were lost.

Tadley town and Basingstoke borough councillor David Leeks, who is chairman of the AWE local liaison committee, said of the continuing news of job lay-offs: “It creates uncertainty for the staff and can’t be good for their morale. Let’s just hope that this is the last lot of redundancies.

“If it carries on, it will have a bad effect on the community.”