Unite the union has been closely monitoring the takeover of Rockwell Collins in Kilkeel, Co Down, it has confirmed.

The aerospace firm is being acquired by United Technologies (UTC) and the union said it is "vital" to safeguard the jobs of around 800 workers.

Unite Regional Officer Susan Fitzgerald said: "The Aerospace industry operates within a highly competitive global market which has become even more challenging as a result of the downturn from the great recession that started in 2008.

"Orders have begun to pick up in the last couple of years right across the aerospace sector and Rockwell Collins has been able to make a substantial profit from the combination of a skilled, dedicated workforce and lower cost base in Kilkeel.

"Unite has been closely monitoring the likelihood and consequences of Rockwell Collins being taken over by United Technologies. This is a very big corporate takeover and will involve very significant restructuring in both companies.

"We note that United Technologies has identified the potential for $500 million worth of what they call 'cost synergies' – to corporate management that means rationalisations that will increase profit – to workers that will raise fears of site closures, redundancies and the potential of offshoring.

"Unite has been actively engaging union colleagues at other Rockwell Collins sites across the world to secure jobs and pay and any likely impact arising from a UTC takeover. We will seek to continue and broaden this engagement.

"There is no immediate threat to jobs at Kilkeel from today's announcement, and we should be well-positioned to weather out any storm but we will be keeping a watching brief on developments as they play out."

South Down MLA Sinead Bradley has sought assurances that jobs are safeguarded following the buy over. She said: "The scale of this buy over, even by global standards, is hugely significant and has been described as one of the largest aviation deals in history.

"The SDLP has already set about communicating with those charged with closing this deal to garner support for and to secure the long term viability of the 800 jobs currently held in the Kilkeel base.

"The significance of these jobs to our Economy is vital, particularly as we face the uncertainties of Brexit. It is therefore critical that we ensure they are safeguarded."

(CD/JP)