Williamstown’s shipyard on Thursday announced 50 more jobs would be axed in March.
This follows on from 200 jobs cut at BAE Systems before Christmas.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said the Williamstown shipyard was the second in a fortnight that was looking at closure.
Assistant national secretary Glenn Thompson said Forgacs in Newcastle closed just over a week ago and the union had serious concerns for the future of Williamstown’s dockyard.
“The response from BAE in shedding these jobs is a response to the lack of action by Malcolm Turnbull and the Federal Government in not making decisive decisions around our future shipbuilding strategy,” he said.
“The Government is some 12 months behind in delivering their white paper.
“We would say that Malcolm Turnbull should be labelled as the grim reaper of Australian shipbuilding jobs.”
BAE chief operating officer, David Bond, said workers were advised on Thursday there would be further reductions to the shipbuilding workforce on site.
He said 50 salaried and trade positions would be made redundant in March.
There are currently 150 shipbuilders on site. A further 200 employees in other roles are also working at the site.
“The shipbuilding workforce at Williamstown is continuing to meet remaining production milestones on the AWD (Air Warfare Destroyer) program while achieving exemplary performance and safety benchmarks,” Mr Bond said.
“We will continue to align the work we have to do on the AWD program with the resources needed to complete this project.”
BAE’s chief executive Glynn Phillips had said in November that 150 jobs would be cut in the first quarter of 2016 as work wound down on the AWD programs.
The cuts come after the Federal Government invested $40 million in shipbuilding but allocated most work to Adelaide’s naval shipyard.
Defence Minister Marise Payne and Federal Gellibrand MP Tim Watts have been contacted for comment.
Ms Payne previously blamed Labor for creating a “valley of death” or gaps in continuous work leading to job losses.
Federal Gellibrand MP Tim Watts said the Williamstown shipyard was a vital source of jobs for the people of Melbourne’s west.
“Under this Liberal government, almost 1000 jobs have been lost from the shipyards in Williamstown, and after losing another 50 workers the shipyard is on its last legs,” he said.
The naval shipyard began cutting jobs at Williamstown in late 2014.
On October 28, the Nuship Adelaide left the Williamstown for Sydney after BAE finished work on Australia’s second landing helicopter dock ship.
It is likely to be the last ship to leave the yard.
