Fears grow for Bicester defence depot jobs (From thisisoxfordshire)

Fears grow for Bicester defence depot jobs

6:10am Thursday 12th November 2009

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A TRADE union has raised fears 500 jobs could be outsourced at one of Bicester’s biggest employers.

Unite representatives claim the town’s arm of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency could be forced to outsource up to 500 jobs if Government ministers follow advice to privatise the agency.

The organisation, which has a depot at Graven Hill, south of Bicester, supplies equipment to UK armed forces across the globe.

About 1,000 people are currently employed at the Graven Hill site.

Representatives from three trade unions — Unite, Public and Commercial Services and Prospect — plan to meet North Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry in a bid to form a plan of action to stop the agency being privatised.

Unite representative Les Sibley has called on the Government to allow unions to make an alternative cost-cutting proposal.

He said: “Unfortunately, we do not have time on our side.

“We would urge ministers and the MoD to think again and allow trade unions to submit an in-house bid.”

An MoD spokesman declined to comment on the unions’ claims beyond issuing a statement which said: “The MoD is working with the Treasury to look at ways we can improve efficiency across Defence.

“We are considering a number of options. Trade unions are fully engaged in the process.”

• The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Oxfordshire has fallen.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics revealed 8,951 people were claiming the allowance in the county in October – a fall of 289 on the previous month.

Nationally the number of claimants increased for the 20th successive month, to reach a 12-year high of 1.64 million.

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