Unite the UK’s leading union has responded to the announcement
today (17 October) that Rolls Royce is looking to
make over 2,000 redundancies, including potentially hundreds
in the UK.
Unite was very disappointed to learn about these redundancies via
a leak to Sky News late last night. This morning, Rolls Royce
released an official stock market announcement and subsequently
briefed employees, however no additional clarity about the job
losses or where they are likely to be made has been provided,
despite announcing a figure of over 2,000 globally.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Rolls
Royce has provided no justification why it believes these job
losses are necessary.
“This announcement appears to be about appeasing the
markets and its shareholders while ignoring its workers.
Attempting to bypass unions will not be allowed.
“This approach only serves to create more stress and
uncertainty and Unite will be seeking reassurances on
jobs.”
Despite having waited nine months since the CEO stated Rolls
Royce was a “burning platform” and structural change was
required, Unite has been told today that it will be a further
three months before any more details are provided to employees.
Employees have suffered three previous transformations since
2016, resulting in thousands of job losses, with the UK workforce
bearing the brunt of those losses, despite Rolls-Royce receiving
hundreds of millions of pounds in taxpayers’ money via the UK
government in support of the business.
Unite and its representatives will engage with Rolls Royce to
secure the future of its members.
