Prospect hails Rolls-Royce decision to save marine engineering jobs in Portsmouth

Prospect has welcomed the decision by engineering group Rolls-Royce to retain key marine engineering jobs in Portsmouth.

In January this year, Rolls-Royce announced the closure of its marine engineering facility in the city. This facility has been responsible for both the design and manufacture of key components of the new class of aircraft carriers.

The closure would have resulted in the loss of up to 75 jobs, but Prospect and Unite trade unions worked extensively with the company to seek an alternative solution. The unions were instrumental in persuading the company to maintain the base, not least to protect key engineering skills that the company will continue to need.

While unable to save all the jobs under threat, 45 posts will be secure. The business will be relocating from its current base at Cosham in Portsmouth to its Broad Oak site.

Prospect negotiator John Ferrett said: “This is extremely welcome news for Prospect members working at Rolls-Royce. The company faced losing all of these staff after deciding to relocate engineering to its Bristol plant and members faced losing their jobs.

“Today’s decision has secured the roles of 45 skilled engineers and leaves the door open for the business to grow in Portsmouth if it succeeds in attracting new orders. This is an excellent example of unions working constructively with the company to save jobs.”