MORE than 100 aerospace workers in Dorset are facing redundancy, a trade union says.

Magellan Aerospace, which employs people from acrosss the county, is proposing the job losses and intends to close one of its two sites at Wallisdown, according to Unite.

The blow is a knock-on effect of cuts at Airbus, for which Magellan supplies parts.

Unite said the job losses would be “very grim” for the families affected and the region’s economy.

Unite regional officer Janet Wall said: “Due to a steep decline in orders from Airbus and Boeing because of Covid-19, the company is planning to make more than 100 workers redundant – 96 by September 1 with a further six roles to go by December 1.”

She reported that the company also planned to close its site at Discovery Court on the Poole side of Wallisdown Road.

It has a separate operation on the Bournemouth side of Wallisdown Road.

“This is a very grim blow for the workers and their families, and will also have a knock-on effect for the Dorset economy which depends on these skilled workers’ wages to lubricate economic activity,” she said.

“Unfortunately, this is part of an emerging trend in Dorset where many small to medium size engineering firms are contracting and making staff redundant because of the massive adverse impact of the pandemic on the UK’s aerospace industry,” she added.

“Unite is fighting hard for these workers’ jobs, but the reality is, if more orders don’t start rolling in soon, these jobs will be gone – that’s why the government must step up to the plate to support the aerospace sector as has been done in France and Germany.”

Airbus has announced 15,000 job cuts worldwide, including 1,727 in the UK. The UK cuts will affect its fatories at Flintshire and Bristol.

Unite called those job cuts“another act of industrial vandalism” against the aerospace sector.

Its rival Boeing has also suffered, with Norwegian Air Shuttle recently cancelling an order for 97 jets.

The industry has felt the effects of airlines being unable to afford new planes while flights are grounded.

Another key aerospace employer in Dorset, the engineering giant Meggitt, revealed in April that it would cut 1,800 jobs worldwide.

Magellan currently employs about 250 staff at its two Wallisdown sites.

The Canadian-based multi-national company has been approached for comment.