Airplane seat firm’sdecision to lay off 350 staff a blow to Portadown: Beattie
❝ These are worrying times. Coronavirus is reaching into every corner of our society
THERE was shock in Portadown yesterday after major local employer Thompson Aero Seating laid off 350 contract workers.
Chinese-owned Thompson Aero Seating makes seating for the aircraft industry.
Workers took to social media to voice their anger.
Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie (below) said the news was a blow to the area, adding that the firm had been “on life support” because of the hit taken by the commercial aircraft industry during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The layoffs are a direct result of Covid-19,” he said.
“It’s a blow to the area — but it’s not surprising.”
The Upper Bann MLA said he thought the company was now in survival mode.
“These are worrying times. Covid-19 is reaching into every corner of our society.”
Upper Bann Sinn Fein MLA John O’dowd said the firm “could and should” have accessed the UK Government’s furlough scheme for salary protection during the virus emergency.
“They now face huge uncertainty when the company could have secured 80% of their wages.
“I call on management at Thompson’s, even at this 11th hour, to release these workers under the furlough scheme rather than laying them off,” the MLA said.
The firm has sites at Portadown, Carn and Banbridge.
Its parent company is the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
In 2019 the company reported a drastic slump in profits, making a £27.7m loss in 2018.
The company could not be reached for comment after the news broke yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, more agri-food workers have protested about conditions to contain the spread of coronavirus in their workplace as divisions continued at the top of the Executive over whether businesses should stay open.
Around 40 workers at Linden
Foods in Dungannon failed to turn up to work yesterday — making it the latest company where workers have taken action over what they claim is a lack of social distancing. Earlier this week around 100 workers at Moy Park in Portadown walked out for around 15 minutes after a stand-off over conditions.
And Ulster Carpets was also under fire amid claims it was not observing proper protective measures for staff, with Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill calling for it to shut down as a ‘non-essential’ business.
Yesterday, First Minister Arlene Foster said those who cannot work from home should go to work as long as there are social distancing measures in place, but Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill said all non-essential businesses should close immediately.
She said: “I repeat my call again on non-essential businesses to close immediately. Not tomorrow, not next week but now.
“Do this for the safety of your family, do it for the safety of their [staff ] families, do it for the safety of your workers, do it for the wider community and particularly those most at risk.”
Trade union Unite said yesterday that staff at Linden Foods had been concerned at the absence of social distancing measures on the boning line, in the canteen and at entry and exit points. The company has around 1,000 staff.
Brian Hewitt, Unite regional officer for workers, claimed management has provided no additional wash facilities and failed to stagger breaks.
But a spokesman said action was being taken to protect staff.
“We are adhering to Government guidance and continue to actively take feedback from our teams on the implementation of the measures taken. Yesterday we had approximately 40 employees from our total workforce who did not attend work.
“We have doubled the size of our canteens, have erected new multiple hand-washing units at the entrance to all our sites, increased sanitising units which are closely monitored, staggered breaks, erected new temporary changing facilities, [been] carrying out temperature checks on all employees twice daily, reviewed social distancing and are installing screens and re-spacing work areas, increased PPE, and undertaken additional training of our teams.”
Meanwhile, staff at the Nutts Corner warehouse of grocery retailer Lidl also complained about measures for their protection.
But the retailer said: “Customer and employee health and safety is of the utmost priority to us, and our team has worked tirelessly in the background to develop, plan and execute measures to ensure our employees are as protected as possible while continuing to provide vital food and supplies to the communities we serve across Northern Ireland.
“These measures include multiple hand sanitiser stations at various points throughout the premises, and dedicated quantities of antibacterial wipes that employees are encouraged to utilise.
“External cleaners have been made aware of key touchpoints throughout the building and we have arranged for these to be diligently cleaned on a more frequent basis.”
Angela Mcgowan, CBI Northern Ireland director, said: “When the updated essential business list is published, it will provide much needed clarity to NI firms.
“Protecting employees’ lives and livelihoods remains the top concern for Northern Irish firms. Companies want to ensure essential products and services keep going, while prioritising people’s safety. It will also help the public and family members of critical workers to understand just how important these employees are.
“It’s important that business, the unions and NI government work closely together to ensure both employers and employees have the support they need during these unprecedented times. CBI NI is proud to have played a leading role in the creation of the labour market forum.”