Monday, July 30, 2012

60 jobs at Cumbrian defence depot ?safe?, says union

Unions at Longtown munitions depot believe that 60 of the 300 jobs at risk there are safe.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had proposed closing the site, known as Defence Storage and Distribution Agency Longtown, in 2014, transferring its explosive-storage function to Kineton in Warwickshire.

The trade union Prospect is campaigning against closure. It believes that the box task ? checking and upgrading used ammunition boxes ? will be retained.

The union stumbled across the information in the MoD?s investment appraisal for the site.

Neil Scott, Prospect section secretary, said: ?When we digested the investment appraisal we noticed that the box task had been excluded.

?While we are delighted that at least 60 jobs will remain, we were shocked to find out this way. This is a major change to their project. They are not pulling out completely.

?The whole project has changed from closure to withdrawal of the explosive function.?

The MoD told the News & Star that the box task may stay at Longtown, even if the rest of the depot closes, but that a final decision has yet to be made.

A spokesman said: ?A study is underway to determine the most effective and value for money approach to providing the box task after March 2014, when current arrangements task expire. The Longtown head of establishment and trades unions are being kept fully informed during the study process and the report is scheduled to be available later this year.?

Meanwhile, the fight to save all 300 jobs at the depot goes on.

Defence Minister Peter Luff has the final say.

He is due to visit the site on August 14 and is expected to announce his decision in September.

Source: http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/60-jobs-at-cumbrian-defence-depot-safe-says-union-1.980533?referrerPath=/news_round-up_1_96082

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