THOUSANDS have backed a petition calling for Rolls-Royce chiefs and the First Minister to protect jobs at the engineering giant’s Inchinnan factory.

Over 13,000 concerned residents have now signed the petition, which was launched after the company confirmed yesterday that 700 jobs are to be axed at the site.

The job cuts are a response to the impact the coronavirus crisis is having on the aerospace industry, with Rolls-Royce looking at withdrawing its entire services capability from Inchinnan.

More than half of the 1,300-strong Inchinnan workforce will be axed, with bosses at the firm hoping this can be achieved through voluntary redundancy.

But many are furious at the planned closure, which they believe will have an "extreme impact" on the local area and Scotland.

The petition states: "The employees who face redundancy are highly skilled men and women who will unfortunately be unable to find any employment like it.

"The cuts will also affect other Scottish businesses who supply products for the company. 

"Why have Rolls Royce not safeguarded these jobs by using their valuable Inchinnan employees, rather than sending work to other sites which was originally set for this site?

"We urge that the Scottish government and Nicola Sturgeon in particular 'will continue to do everything we possibly can to get a more positive outcome to this.'"

Staff at the Renfrewshire factory, which manufactures compressor blades and seals for planes, have been facing an uncertain future since the company announced plans to cut at least 9,000 jobs globally.

Read more: Rolls-Royce confirm 700 jobs to be axed at Inchinnan factory

Responding to Scottish Labour MSP Neil Bibby during First Minister's Questions yesterday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "News the workers at Rolls-Royce in Inchinnan will have got this morning is absolutely devastating and my thoughts are very much with them and their families today.

"The Scottish Government will continue to do everything we possibly can to get a more positive outcome to this.

"These jobs are important, the Rolls-Royce facility is important and, of course, advanced manufacturing is very important in terms of the Scottish economy."

The First Minister said she will be working with trade unions, though state aid regulations may be a constraint to financial support.

She told Bibby she will try to bring together a "Team Scotland" approach to safeguarding the jobs.

A Rolls-Royce spokesperson told The Gazette yesterday: “We have briefed the Scottish Government and other local stakeholders on the business impact of Covid-19 on Rolls-Royce and are keeping them up to date as our consultation process progresses.

“This number of proposed job losses is a terrible prospect for the people and communities that are impacted, and we understand how devastating the news must be for everyone at the Inchinnan facility.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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