Fears of exodus over plan to cut RAF jobs
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Fears of exodus over plan to cut RAF jobs
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news...ee6a0f2164.lpf
UNION bosses have warned of an exodus of up to 15,000 people from Huntingdonshire if MoD plans to axe jobs go ahead.
The Ministry of Defence is planning to axe thousands of jobs at RAF Wyton.
Prospect, which represents staff at the base, said the job losses would have a knock-on effect on local businesses and would hit the area hard coming after proposed job cuts at Hinchingbrooke and Papworth hospitals, possible staff reductions at merged emergency services and the closures of the Monks Wood research centre and the British Council office in Cambridge.
Prospect believes the MoD is planning to cut all the local Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) staff, both civilian and military, from RAF Wyton, RAF Brampton and RAF Henlow to nil and to leave RAF Wyton by 2009-10.
Angela Powell, from the union, said this would affect up to 4,000 staff and although some would be transferred elsewhere a significant number of staff were likely to be made redundant.
She said: "This exodus could be potentially some 10,000-15,000 people, or more.
"A major concern for the area will be a reduction in disposable incomes and spending power, depreciation of property prices and consequential reductions in services across the region."
Prospect said the DLO had submitted a business case to ministers for approval without consulting staff, local communities and businesses.
It has launched a petition calling for jobs at the bases to be retained and is urging residents to write to their MP and military chiefs opposing the move.
Jonathan Djanogly, Huntingdon MP, said: "I remain of the same opinion that the level of consultation the MoD has had with staff has not been at an acceptable level."
He said proper consultations were necessary because staff, many of whom had worked for the MoD for a long time, were uncertain about their futures.
But Mr Djanogly said the district's job market was a good one and he felt it should be able to absorb people who were made redundant and those who did not want to transfer elsewhere.
He said he had not been told the MoD were not going to find another use for RAF Wyton, but if the base were to close it would be a "very sad moment" because of its close links to the area.
UNION bosses have warned of an exodus of up to 15,000 people from Huntingdonshire if MoD plans to axe jobs go ahead.
The Ministry of Defence is planning to axe thousands of jobs at RAF Wyton.
Prospect, which represents staff at the base, said the job losses would have a knock-on effect on local businesses and would hit the area hard coming after proposed job cuts at Hinchingbrooke and Papworth hospitals, possible staff reductions at merged emergency services and the closures of the Monks Wood research centre and the British Council office in Cambridge.
Prospect believes the MoD is planning to cut all the local Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) staff, both civilian and military, from RAF Wyton, RAF Brampton and RAF Henlow to nil and to leave RAF Wyton by 2009-10.
Angela Powell, from the union, said this would affect up to 4,000 staff and although some would be transferred elsewhere a significant number of staff were likely to be made redundant.
She said: "This exodus could be potentially some 10,000-15,000 people, or more.
"A major concern for the area will be a reduction in disposable incomes and spending power, depreciation of property prices and consequential reductions in services across the region."
Prospect said the DLO had submitted a business case to ministers for approval without consulting staff, local communities and businesses.
It has launched a petition calling for jobs at the bases to be retained and is urging residents to write to their MP and military chiefs opposing the move.
Jonathan Djanogly, Huntingdon MP, said: "I remain of the same opinion that the level of consultation the MoD has had with staff has not been at an acceptable level."
He said proper consultations were necessary because staff, many of whom had worked for the MoD for a long time, were uncertain about their futures.
But Mr Djanogly said the district's job market was a good one and he felt it should be able to absorb people who were made redundant and those who did not want to transfer elsewhere.
He said he had not been told the MoD were not going to find another use for RAF Wyton, but if the base were to close it would be a "very sad moment" because of its close links to the area.
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DLO and DPA to merge in acquisition shake up
MOD Website: DLO and DPA to merge in acquisition shake up
This probably has something to do with it! Announced by Strangely Browne this afternoon.
This probably has something to do with it! Announced by Strangely Browne this afternoon.
"Consistent with today’s announcement, and in order to help the new organisation to work as one, MoD is also announcing the collocation of elements of the DLO and DPA in the Bath Bristol area. This collocation will save around £200M over 25 years, money that can be reinvested in the front line."
"This decision involves the DLO reducing its presence at Andover and RAF Wyton and withdrawing from a number of other, smaller sites over the next five years."
"This decision involves the DLO reducing its presence at Andover and RAF Wyton and withdrawing from a number of other, smaller sites over the next five years."
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Frankly, I think there's too much fat at Wyton anyway. When I was there, there were - get this - 26 Group Captains there. Can you believe it? I know it's a shame for those to be made redundant, but that's life (and yes, I have experienced it in my household).
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I've had Grade Ds and E1s (EO and AO in oldspeak) working for me who've worked a 4 day week. The point is, though, is that they are only paid for the hours they work. Surprisingly, they have usually been more productive, than the full-timers.
Why there is so much surprise that the DPA and DLO are "downsizing" (ugh!) is itself a surprise. When the DLO formed, it must have been obvious that the only saving would be bums on seats and seats in buildings. Additionally, DPA could not possibly buy Whole Life Support without being integral with the support IPTs.
Why there is so much surprise that the DPA and DLO are "downsizing" (ugh!) is itself a surprise. When the DLO formed, it must have been obvious that the only saving would be bums on seats and seats in buildings. Additionally, DPA could not possibly buy Whole Life Support without being integral with the support IPTs.
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Going back
So the Tornado IPT move of a few years ago from ABW to Wyt that caused a lot of hassle when the civil servants didn't want to move is coming around full circle then?
And what happens when the ones recruited in the Wyton area don't want to move? More pressure on the uniformed guys, more time spent building up a new knowledge base.
sw
And what happens when the ones recruited in the Wyton area don't want to move? More pressure on the uniformed guys, more time spent building up a new knowledge base.
sw
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Having recently left a ground tour where I was a line manager for some civil servants I really felt that by far the majority of them were good guys doing a good job in conditions that would never be tolerated in industry. The number that let the side down was probably easily balanced by the number of waster unifomed guys treading water and keeping their nose clean for three years. Those are the posts that need sweeping out.
They did take a lot of flak from the military guys but I wouldn't have worked for the pay they received. You have to bear in mind these are 37 hour a week civilians not military staff. I also find it a bit rich that many of the procurement issues that are blamed on the civil service come from IPTs headed up by military guys.
I think it's about time I left, defending civil servants? I seem to recall defending navigators as well in a thread not long ago!
They did take a lot of flak from the military guys but I wouldn't have worked for the pay they received. You have to bear in mind these are 37 hour a week civilians not military staff. I also find it a bit rich that many of the procurement issues that are blamed on the civil service come from IPTs headed up by military guys.
I think it's about time I left, defending civil servants? I seem to recall defending navigators as well in a thread not long ago!
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Originally Posted by mary_hinge
.....and to leave RAF Wyton by 2009-10.....
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I went to Wyton to hold straight after IOT before starting EFT. I think the problem with the place is that some people work their bo*****s off while others play a hell of a lot of golf! The place is exceptionally top heavy and it appears to me it is a place that justifys a over-prortionate number of engineers in the RAF especially Wg Cdr and above. If they cut thes jobs it could release some money back to the front line,or more likely, it will just go to pay for more bl**dy asylum seekers! Although I don't know who i pissed off to be sent to Wyton ?
Have you seen the new 2006 RAF Stratergy Paper??
It's on the Waddo AWC scrolling news on Intranent....
Interesting reading, with RAF Bases as of 2015. Still has Benson and Odiham on it and no Lyneham..so talk of the JHC hub at Lyn may be shelved??
No mention of Brampton / Wyton / Henlow either...just 20 MoB's and 6 Training bases.
Take a look.....
It's on the Waddo AWC scrolling news on Intranent....
Interesting reading, with RAF Bases as of 2015. Still has Benson and Odiham on it and no Lyneham..so talk of the JHC hub at Lyn may be shelved??
No mention of Brampton / Wyton / Henlow either...just 20 MoB's and 6 Training bases.
Take a look.....
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The Tornado IPT is moving to Marham within the next 8 to 12 months. That's straight from the horses mouth as it were (A C/T i know has been posted there and is trying to keep hold of his quarter at Marham for when the IPT moves)
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I have to agree that merging the DLO and the DPA can only be a good thing. But Id avoid slagging off civil servants. I have an E2 work for me...He works 9-5 Mon-Fri and thinks he is lucky to take home £14K PA.....Crikey
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Originally Posted by vecvechookattack
...Id avoid slagging off civil servants. I have an E2 work for me...He works 9-5 Mon-Fri and thinks he is lucky to take home £14K PA.....Crikey
Many civvies are worth their weight in gold (and some are pretty heavy too) but the way they are being treated by the MoD is disgraceful.
I worked with a Civil Servant chap who was excellent in his job and was paid a pittance ... he moved to the MoD because it was the best paid branch 
Lawd 'elp the rest then!!
BTW there was a rumour at 'The Pavillions' that the buildings were of a design that could be easily transformed to wharehousing.
Lawd 'elp the rest then!! BTW there was a rumour at 'The Pavillions' that the buildings were of a design that could be easily transformed to wharehousing.
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The less chance I have of being sent to Lincs, Cambs & Norfolk the better. I applaud the closure of bases in dull places - the locals complain when we're there and complain when we might not be.
I'll start the 'RAF Take Back Chivenor' rumour now then shall I?
I'll start the 'RAF Take Back Chivenor' rumour now then shall I?