Bombardier To Bring Forward 50 Redundancies

Aerospace manufacturer Bombardier has revealed it is to bring forward up to 50 redundancies.

The firm announced in February that it was cutting up to 1,090 posts over the next two years.

However, while the overall total will remain the same, up to 630 jobs are to go this year instead of 580.

A spokesperson from Bombardier said: "We have advised our employees that, having reviewed our requirements, regrettably, we need to pull forward some of the workforce reductions we had expected to take place next year.

"In February this year, as part of a global downsizing across Bombardier, we announced a workforce reduction of up to 1,080, comprising 580 in 2016 and 500 in 2017.

"This overall figure of 1,080 has not changed. However, we now expect more people to leave this year - potentially up to 630 - with the remainder leaving in 2017."

Ulster Unionist representative for East Belfast Andy Allen said: "I was contacted by several concerned employees who had just been told by letter that the company were now expecting up to 630 jobs to go this year.  One of the reasons given is that the company will give core employees in some areas the option to take redundancy if they do not want to downgrade to a lower position.

"Whilst I am relieved that Bombardier has reaffirmed its commitment to the C Series programme and to Northern Ireland's critical role in its delivery, these earlier than planned job losses shows the situation is still deeply unstable. This underlines the necessity for the incoming Executive to devise quickly, and with the essential input of business and unions, a Manufacturing Strategy for Northern Ireland."

(CD)