PEOPLE are being urged to send messages of support for a lobby of Parliament next month in light of the possible job losses at Rolls Royce in Barnoldswick.

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) has organised a lobby for Wednesday, December 5, which will include a meeting in Parliament where MPs will be allowed to put questions regarding the UK aerospace industry to the Prime Minister.

John Boardman, works convener at Rolls Royce, said anyone wanting to send messages should send them to him and he would pass them on.

He attended a meeting held in London on Monday, at which John Rose, chief executive of Rolls Royce, confirmed that there would be no further announcements on how the 3,800 job losses would affect most of the sites until next week at the earliest.

Mr Boardman said: "The people working within the aerospace Industry and their representatives are all aware of the difficulties presented by the proposed job losses. The Shop Stewards Committee at the Barnoldswick factories have ruled nothing out or ruled nothing in at this stage. We are waiting to see the bottom line for the Barnoldswick plant.

"The events of September 11 have had a massive impact on the American people and their government. Monday's tragic accident in New York may impact further on travel preferences in the USA.

"There are real concerns that in their understandable grief, the American people will turn inwards and take a nationalistic approach to their aerospace manufacturing industry and carriers. One such concern is that the very generous amounts of cash aid provided by the American government to support the American carriers could at a time of national crisis have an implied patriotic reaction for the American airlines to automatically buy American airframes and engines the next time they re-equip. This would not only be unfortunate for the Airbus and Rolls Royce, it would also have a major impact upon all the companies in the UK/European Aerospace supply chain."

He said it was important that the British government did not allow the aerospace manufacturing industry to become disadvantaged in comparison to its American counterparts.

He said: "It is critical that the government acts now to provide the UK aerospace industry with a level playing field."

Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has been invited to meet with the North West Aerospace Alliance.

Mr Boardman has also invited her to discuss the problems with the Works Convener at British Aerospace Systems, in Samlesbury.

Messages of support should be sent to John Boardman at the Union Office, Rolls Royce plc, PO Box 3, Barnoldswick, BB18 5RU.