CONCERN has been raised more than 60 jobs could be lost at a Broughton factory when Airbus switches part of its wing production to Korea.
Airbus bosses say no jobs will be lost when work on bottom wing skins on the A320 family of passenger planes moves to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) under the signing of a new contract.
But workers at contractor Metal Improvement Company (MIC), who shape and strengthen the wings for the Airbus A320 and A380, fear half of its 130-strong workforce could be made redundant when the contract takes effect in two years.
Unite shop steward Tony Moore says morale at the factory, based near Hawarden Airport, has hit “rock bottom.”
He told the Leader: “This is a real kick in the teeth for us.
“The A320 wings account for more than half of our workload so we’ll be left with hardly anything when they go.
“The government has pumped millions of pounds into Airbus over the years, so it’s not fair to switch production to another country.”
Staff were told about potential job losses in a meeting on Tuesday, but the extent of the situation will not be known until negotiations with Airbus have taken place.
Mr Moore believes those most vulnerable to redundancy will be machinists on the shop floor.
“Airbus is the lifeblood of this factory,” he added. “We’re all very concerned at the moment.”
Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami is urging Airbus to ensure as much work as possible is retained locally.
He said: “The headlines so far have been all about Airbus but a lot of work locally and across the UK belongs to the supply chain.
“Airbus has encouraged the supply chain to site in Broughton and then it sends the work elsewhere.
“The last thing Airbus want is to impact on the supply chain, and I have been speaking to bosses this week about this exact point.
“The company needs to look at what it’s doing to ensure as much of the work is retained locally.”
A spokesman for Airbus said final assembly of the A320 wings will continue to be carried out at Broughton, and that 200 employees will be re-deployed within the Broughton plant.
“We can confirm that Airbus will be working with our supply chain partners impacted by this contract to look at other alternative work packages, but it is too early to give any details,” said the spokesman.
“The transfer of work resulting from the contract will take several years allowing the supply chain time to make adjustments.”
A spokesman for MIC declined to comment but said an official statement would be made in the next week.