British Airways jobs go at end of grim week
More than 500 jobs have been lost from British Airways and a cigarette filter maker, it emerged today, ending another grim week on the employment front.
Tail spin: BA is pesponding to the 'tough economic cliamte'
BA said 300 jobs were being cut as part of a targeted voluntary redundancy scheme in response to the 'tough economic climate'.
A spokesman said: 'The scheme was designed to meet some demand for redundancy in some parts of the business and where it is possible to release people and not replace them.
'We are pleased with the take up and 300 people will leave the airline under this scheme at the end of May.'
Traffic figures for March 2009 show the airline carried 2.61m passengers - 8.2% down on the March 2008 figure.
Jarrow-based Filtrona Filters said it was shedding 233 jobs because of a worldwide decline in the tobacco market.
A 90-day formal consultation process has been launched with unions on the redundancies, which will take effect from July.
GMB regional organiser Val Scott said: 'It is a disgrace that so many workers are losing their jobs. This is a disappointing announcement, as it seems so much of the decision is down to the use of cheap labour in eastern Europe.
'During the consultation we will make every effort to ensure that the company's plan to modernise and save the Jarrow factory works out.'
More than 3,000 job losses were announced yesterday by firms including insurance giant Norwich Union and aircraft parts manufacturer Bombardier.
Meanwhile protests continued today by hundreds of workers at factories owned by car parts firm Visteon, which announced 560 job losses earlier this week.
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