Base das Lajes

Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Portugal
Region
Região Autónoma dos Açores; Região Autónoma dos Açores; Região Autónoma dos Açores
Location of affected unit(s)
Ilha Terceira
Sector
Public Administration / Defence
84 - Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
84.2 - Provision of services to the community as a whole
84.22 - Defence activities
500 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
10 January 2015
Employment effect (start)
8 January 2015
Foreseen end date
23 September 2015

Description

The United States of America has announced plans for a gradual reduction of Portuguese employees at its air force base in Lajes on Terceira Island in the Azores until autumn of 2015. They aim to reduce the number of employees to 400 (out of a total of 900 people at present).

The announcement was made by the US ambassador in Lisbon, who stated that the cuts are aimed at saving $35 million (€29.6 million) a year.

The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the situation as "particularly worrying for the government." The leader of the Angra do Heroísmo (Azores) trade union stressed that the employee reduction at its air force base in Lajes can lead to the (direct and indirect) unemployment of up to three thousand people.

Sources

  • 8 January 2015: Diário de Notícias

Citation

Eurofound (2015), Base das Lajes, Internal restructuring in Portugal, factsheet number 78217, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/78217.