Concern For Jobs As Bombardier Announces Belfast Sale

Concern is growing in the local community after Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier announced plans to sell its east Belfast operations today.

The firm, which employs thousands in Northern Ireland, said it is committed to finding a buyer and has not referred to any redundancies as part of the strategic reorganisation.

Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Michelle O'Neill has described the news as "hugely concerning to workers and the wider economy".

The Mid Ulster MLA said the detrimental impact comes amid wider uncertainty for the manufacturing industry as a result of Brexit: "The scale of today's announcement will still come as a shock to those affected and to our local economy.

"Bombardier has faced a number of difficulties over recent years and there have been several major job loss announcements over that time. 

"I have spoken this morning to company Chief Executive Michael Ryan and Sinn Féin has already been in contact with representatives of Unite The Union and workers representatives.

"I will also be meeting with the Head of the Civil Service and the Department for the Economy to discuss what can be done to help find a buyer in order to protect the jobs at the Belfast plant."

Meanwhile, the Alliance Party has demanded that "everything possible" is done to ensure a suitable buyer is found.

"Obviously this is an extremely unsettling development for workers in Bombardier, who now face a period of uncertainty, and my thoughts are with them," said party leader Naomi Long. 
"However, the company has diversified in recent years and has attracted a significant amount of non-Bombardier work. 


"The focus now has to be on finding a buyer committed to maintaining and developing manufacturing on the Belfast site to secure not just Bombardier jobs but those reliant on being part of the company's supply chain across Northern Ireland.

"My colleague Chris Lyttle MLA and I are seeking an urgent meeting with management in Belfast to discuss the economic implications of these developments. As Northern Ireland's largest private sector employer and manufacturing company, we must do everything possible to ensure that a suitable buyer is found."



(JG/CM)