Russell George AM – the Shadow Economy and Business Minister – has expressed his concern for the 3,200 employees of Airbus in Broughton, North Wales, who have, according to media reports, been furloughed by the aero giant.
Airbus, headquartered in Toulouse, but with a manufacturing plant in Filton near Bristol, another in Hamburg, and others in the US, Canada, Spain, and China employing some 135,000 worldwide, with more than 6,000 in Broughton.
As reported in the media, an Airbus spokesperson said: “Airbus confirms it has agreed with its social partners to apply the Government’s job retention scheme for approximately 3,200 production and production-support employees at its commercial aircraft site in Broughton.”
Mr George said:
“The Covid-19 (Coronavirus) crisis has seen a massive reduction in the number of aircraft in operation over recent weeks and, we might expect, for the foreseeable future.
“This has had an impact on new orders for aircraft, not just for Airbus, but its main competitor, Boeing.
“However, today my thoughts – and those of my Welsh Conservative colleagues – are with the thousands of affected Airbus employees here in Wales, and the thousands more in the supply chain.
“We look forward to the time when this fantastic company gets back up to full production, and continues to be a major contributor to wealth iny, and the economy of, Wales.”