Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BLOW TO BOMBARDIER AS 95 MORE JOBS GO
Politicians and union call on firm to rethink
UP to 95 more jobs are to be axed at Bombardier despite the “improved sales situation” around its C Series passenger jet.
The Canadian firm announced cuts to its global workforce of 7,500 last year and said the latest reduction was “unavoidable”.
But Unite called for a rethink on the redundancies in Belfast.
The union’s regional co-ordinating officer Davy Thompson said: “We are very disappointed with this news.
“This is another blow to the Bombardier workforce in Belfast and comes in the wake of wider concerns over the ongoing trade dispute with Boeing.
“We are asking them to lift the threat of redundancies which were part of the restructuring last year.
“The rationale offered by management is this has been brought about by the outsourcing of IT and the need to reduce staff in functional areas. We do not agree with their case.”
The company has found itself at the centre of a row in the US over a deal with Delta Airlines to deliver 75 jets.
Boeing is arguing state aid has given Bombardier an unfair advantage and has asked US authorities to investigate. The deal was agreed when orders of the C Series aircraft were lower than expected.
A company spokesman added: “Following the 7,500 global workforce reductions announced by Bombardier Inc last October we have reviewed our manpower requirements in Belfast and regret to confirm we must reduce our workforce levels by up to 95.
“Those impacted will be functional support personnel, including managers and professional staff.
“We acknowledge the impact this will have on our workforce and their families and will explore opportunities to help mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies.
“However, we need to continue to cut costs and improve the efficiency of our operations to help ensure our long-term competitiveness.”
The reduction was originally planned for next year but Bombardier announced in October it would be brought forward to 2017 – the second time it has advanced planned cuts.
The firm would not reveal how many staff it has trimmed in Belfast over the past five years but it now employs around 4,200.
UUP Assembly member Andy Allen said: “My understanding is the 95 job losses announced at Bombardier today is part of the big restructuring announcement made in February 2016.
“At that time we were told that between 2016 and 2017, 1,080 jobs would be lost in Northern Ireland.
“It is still very disappointing and concerning news considering the improved sales situation for the C Series since that statement was made 18 months ago.”
Sinn Fein’s Mairtin O Muilleoir called on the Department for Economy to “ensure full support to workers being made redundant”.
Chris Lyttle of Alliance added: “Bombardier workers are among the foremost skilled and productive staff in Northern Ireland so this is no reflection on them.”
Democratic Unionist MP Gavin Robinson said the job losses are “not directly linked to the ongoing dispute with Boeing and the upcoming ruling by the US
Department of Commerce”.