Saab gives notice to 350 people

Saab has today given notice to the County Employment Board in Östergötland regarding 350 blue-collar employees at the Saab Aerostructures, Saab Aerosystems, Saab Aircraft and Saab Support business units in Linköping.

Today’s notice encompasses four business units, but to varying extents. Overcapacity is clearly highest within Saab Aerostructures, although other units may also be affected. The move relates to 2005 and 2006. Saab has taken various measures to minimize the notices as far as possible, including a number of individual agreements to leave the company voluntarily. The reason for the action is a decrease in work. Development and production of the JAS 39 Gripen, one of Sweden’s largest industry projects of all time, has entered a new phase. Production for export continues but still below today’s capacity. “It’s extremely sad to have to give notice to skilled co-workers, but the final JAS 39 Gripen will be delivered to the Swedish customer in 2007. Manufacturing of details for the aircraft takes place about two years before final delivery, which means that production will slow down as early as next year,” says Pontus Kallén, General Manager of the business unit Saab Aerostructures. Negotiations with the local Swedish Metalworkers’ Union will begin in the near future. Saab has been forced to suspend over 1,000 people in 2003 and 2004. Including this latest move, notice has been given to 760 people in 2005. A further 1,000 to 1,500 people in Saab AB are likely to be affected in 2005 and 2006. For further information, please contact: Susanne Dalskog, Communications Director, Saab Aerostructures Tel: +46 (0)13-180014. Cell: +46 (0)734-180014. www.saab.se