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Bombardier shedding 280 jobs in NI operations Bombardier sheds 280 jobs, Schlumberger plans plant closure
(35 minutes later)
Bombardier, the aerospace firm, is planning to cut another 280 jobs at its Northern Ireland operations, the Unite union has said. There are fears for the future of hundreds of jobs in Northern Ireland at Aerospace firm Bombardier and an oil field services firm in Newtownabbey.
It is the latest in a series of redundancies which form part of the company's five-year plan to cut costs and increase profitability. The union, Unite, said Bombardier is planning to cut another 280 jobs at its Northern Ireland operations.
Last year, Bombardier cut 1,000 jobs in Northern Ireland, which was about 20% of its local workforce. Meanwhile, more than 200 jobs are under threat at oil field services firm, Schlumberger, which plans to close its Newtownabbey plant next year.
It said the industry was enduring the worst "downturn of the past 30 years".
The redundancies at Bombardier are part of the company's five-year plan to cut costs and increase profitability.
Last year, Bombardier cut 1,000 jobs in NI - about 20% of its local workforce.
In September it said a further 95 support staff would be made redundant.In September it said a further 95 support staff would be made redundant.
The union said the latest job losses are "functional as opposed to operational" meaning losses will be concentrated outside the main production lines.The union said the latest job losses are "functional as opposed to operational" meaning losses will be concentrated outside the main production lines.
BBC News NI business and economic editor John Campbell said: "The company has faced severe financial pressure as cost overruns on its new C-Series jet drained cash out of the company.BBC News NI business and economic editor John Campbell said: "The company has faced severe financial pressure as cost overruns on its new C-Series jet drained cash out of the company.
"That pressure was eased last week when Airbus said it would take a majority stake in C-Series project with a view to buying it outright.""That pressure was eased last week when Airbus said it would take a majority stake in C-Series project with a view to buying it outright."
Davy Thompson of Unite described the news as devastating and "premature". Davy Thompson of Unite described the Bombardier job losses as devastating and "premature".
"This news is all the more concerning as it comes despite management pronouncement that the Airbus acquisition of a 50.01% stake in the C-Series programme might result in a potential doubling of production on site," he said."This news is all the more concerning as it comes despite management pronouncement that the Airbus acquisition of a 50.01% stake in the C-Series programme might result in a potential doubling of production on site," he said.
"Unite has highlighted the fact that Airbus paid nothing for this stake and that it will only come into effect in the second half of 2018."Unite has highlighted the fact that Airbus paid nothing for this stake and that it will only come into effect in the second half of 2018.
"It means that the deal, while providing some hope for the C-Series in the future, has made little to no impact on the financial pressures faced by the company in the present.""It means that the deal, while providing some hope for the C-Series in the future, has made little to no impact on the financial pressures faced by the company in the present."
Newtownabbey job losses
Schlumberger said it currently employs 205 full-time people, including contractors in Northern Ireland.
However, it said the oil and gas industry is going through "the most severe downturn of the past 30 years with operators significantly reducing their investment".
The company said it understands the impact of its announcement and the impact the proposal to close its Newtownabbey plant would have if it goes ahead.
Schlumberger said: "Every effort will be made to support our employees, including potentially transferring some staff to other locations.
"We will continue to identify opportunities such as this, as they become available."
Susan Fitzgerald from Unite described the news as "another hammer blow for Northern Ireland's manufacturing sector".
"We are aware that they have transferred much activity formerly conducted onsite at Newtownabbey to other, low-cost locations, including China," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"We are concerned that the company's global corporate management are attempting to use the downturn in the oil and gas sector as cover to further outsource jobs to low cost alternative locations. If so we will be rejecting their logic."