Wrightbus Talks Reach Deadline Day

Talks to secure the future of Wrightbus have reached the eleventh hour.

Negotiations have progressed with only a single buyer, however time is running out to secure the deal, leaving the future of the company and 1,200 jobs in the balance.

The Unite union said site ownership is the single barrier remaining to a deal and urged Jeff Wright to hand over the land and safeguard jobs and livelihoods.

The bus-maker crashed into administration two weeks ago, making all staff immediately redundant. Increasing numbers of workers are now turning to food banks for support as the uncertainty continues.

Unite Regional Officer for Wrightbus, George Brash told of one worker struggling to meet a heavy mortgage and support a young family after receiving only £20 of support in the past fortnight.

"That's the real human cost of closure. We can't just sit back and watch this happen," Mr Brash said.

"This is the eleventh hour in the effort to save these jobs. Unite is calling on Jeff Wright to do the right thing – by this workforce, by their families, and by this town. We need him to hand over the land, save their livelihoods and offer hope for so many in the mouth of Christmas. There's still time to deliver a hopeful future but we need him to act now."

The union said a deal would not only secure the livelihoods of workers, but would sustain thousands of jobs elsewhere and the wider Ballymena economy. The area has recently lost Patton group, JTI-Gallagher, Michelin and other firms.



(JG/CM)