Shorts announce further 800 jobs cut

Shorts have announced that a further 800 jobs are to go at the company’s aerospace division in Belfast.

Ominously, Shorts also warned that up to 1,100 other jobs were in jeopardy unless there was an upturn in the aerospace manufacturing sector inside the next few months.

Concern about cutbacks at Shorts had been growing as many aerospace companies have been seriously affected by a slump in aircraft sales following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Earlier, SDLP spokesperson on Enterprise Trade & Investment Alasdair McDonnell expressed alarm at the anticipated redundancies: “I am deeply alarmed at the news of these jobs losses. It will have a devastating effect on the economy of Northern Ireland.”

Mr McDonnell added: “We were warned that following the events in the US that there would be jobs losses in the airline industry. Canadian firm Bombardier Aerospace shares have lost nearly half their value since the attacks on 11 September. Today’s announcement is a knock on effect of this.”

Mr McDonnell urged Enterprise Minister Sir Reg Empey to redouble his efforts to ensure that unemployment issues were urgently addressed.

On Tuesday, aircraft manufacturers Shorts confirmed that it was cutting around 250 jobs announced as part of a strategic cost-cutting strategy aimed at improving the firm’s efficiency.

Shorts currently employs around 7,250 workers but it is understood that only around 300 people are directly involved in the assembly of aircraft sections for US company Boeing.

Last week, Boeing announced the shedding of 30,000 jobs. (CL)