Hundreds of people marched in Caerphilly town on the weekend in support of workers threatened with redundancy at Nantgarw’s GE Aviation Wales – but will such a show of feeling be ignored?

Invoking other marches for jobs that have taken place throughout the history of Wales, around 500 gathered at Crescent Road on Saturday, August 1, and then made their way to the front of Caerphilly Castle.

Attendees were encouraged to wear a mask and maintain two-metre social distancing due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Organised by Caerphilly Trades Council and Unite the Union, the walk was in response to GE Aviation’s plans to cut 369 jobs from its maintenance base at Nantgarw, which were confirmed in July.

Around 180 workers have already previously taken voluntary redundancy – separate from this current round of job losses.

The company, which services engines for plane makers Boeing and Airbus, has been affected by a downturn in an aviation industry hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Less flights mean less need to service engines.

Mariam Kamish, secretary of Caerphilly Trades Council, described the event as “historic” and said it was the first march in defence of jobs to take place in Caerphilly since the miners’ strikes in the 1980s.

Ms Kamish said: “We have a situation where there are 1,350 jobs in the plant – 369 of them are threatened.

“Even the kitchen staff, many of which have been there for 35 years, are under threat. 15 have already been dismissed.

“That’s not the case in Italy, France or Germany – their aviation industries are being defended by their governments and we are demanding the same.

“This was not a march against GE – this was a march demanding that government gives us the support that the aviation industry needs. These are the best jobs in Wales and some of the best, most high-tech, jobs in Britain.”

Caerphilly town mayor Mike Prew, whose father worked at the plant for nearly 40 years, attended the march.

He said: “This is a major blow to Caerphilly. It is our Port Talbot steel works and all that skill in servicing those aeroplane engines will be lost forever. It will be yet another manufacturing company going overseas. can’t our governments see we are desperate to keep making things here in Wales?”

So far, neither the UK Government or the Welsh Government has offered any direct support to the US-owned firm.

Caerphilly MP Wayne David, who attended the event, said: “GE Aviation employs highly-skilled workers on good wages. 

“This is one of the most important employers in the whole of South Wales and the loss of 369 jobs would be a body blow for the local and regional economy.  It would also be devastating for those workers and their families.

“The maximum pressure must be put on the UK Government to save these jobs and support the aviation sector.”

A UK Government spokesperson said it “stands ready to support those at risk of losing their jobs”.

The spokesperson added: “The aerospace sector remains a critical part of the UK economy and we will continue to work closely with industry to ensure it can rebuild as the civil aviation market recovers.  

“While conditions remain challenging, firms can continue to draw on the Government’s financial support packages, including billions of pounds of loans and guarantees, tax deferrals and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The aviation industry faces an extremely challenging environment in dealing with the effects of coronavirus.

“We are doing all that we can to support workers, and once again call on the UK Government to take a full and active role to safeguard jobs in the sector, and see the industry through this incredibly difficult period.”

Caerphilly MP Mr David was joined at the event by Caerphilly’s Senedd Member Hefin David, Caerphilly County Borough Council leader Philippa Marsden and shadow secretary of state for Wales, Nia Griffth MP.

Also attending were MPs Alex Davies-Jones of Pontypridd, Beth Winter of Cynon Valley and Chris Bryant of Rhondda, as well as Pontypridd MS Mick Antoniw.