Shorts employees return to work

Over 4,000 employees at Belfast aerospace company, Shorts returned to work today after strike action over pay and conditions was called off.

Union representatives from the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) followed on a decision reached yesterday by Amicus to call off their industrial action which began last week.

It is believed that, under the deal, no redundancies will be made before the end of March and a controversial new shift pattern will be discussed as part of wider pay negotiations.

Welcoming the decision, a spokesperson for Shorts said: "The company and the unions have agreed that the resolution of the dispute and the return to full and formal negotiations on wage contract renewal is central to the future competitiveness of Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast.

"The agreement means that full negotiations on the renewal of the wage contract will get underway later this week with the CSEU that represents all of the unions within the company."

The company said it had agreed not to implement any further redundancies for the duration of the current HR1 redundancy notice, which expires in March 2004.

The issue of the afternoon shift will now form part of the wage contract renewal negotiations.

Davy Thompson from the amalgamated T&G union also welcomed the agreement, which followed all-out strike action taken last week by the 4,500-strong workforce over pay and conditions.

This dispute has been ongoing for over six months between management and union representatives.

Shorts' parent company, Bombardier has been seeking long-term pay concessions as the sector continues to be badly affected by the slump in the aerospace industry.

(MB)