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Unions seek Avaya job loss talks Avaya 'considering' plant closure
(about 3 hours later)
Trade unions are hoping to meet the management of Avaya after news broke of hundreds of jobs losses. US Telecoms firm Avaya has confirmed that it is considering closing its plant in Monkstown, County Antrim, which it bought from Nortel last month.
Unite claimed the US telecoms firm, which bought part of Nortel, is pulling out of Northern Ireland, with the loss of 140 jobs in Monkstown, Newtownabbey. Avaya, owned by private equity firms Silver Lake and TPG Capital, bought Nortel's enterprise division out of administration for $915m in December.
On Thursday, it was announced that the Hughes Christensen drill bit factory in east Belfast was to close with the loss of 210 jobs. About 40% of staff at Monkstown work for the Avaya part of the business.
Parent company Baker Hughes said its operations would move to Texas. Trades union Unite is seeking a meeting with management and has said that 140 jobs are under threat.
The factory at Castlereagh has been in operation for 55 years making drill bits for the oil and gas industry. "Avaya has entered a consultation process following the strategic business decision to potentially close the Monkstown (Northern Ireland) office," a company spokesperson told the BBC news website.
The company made 135 people redundant last year, blaming a decline in the world market for drill bits.
Restructuring
"We had hoped that the redundancies we made during 2009 would allow us to continue bit manufacturing at Woodlands, Texas, and here in Belfast," the company said.
"However, we have determined, in the face of expectations for significantly weaker demand for Tricone bits, that we can only support a single facility to make these bits."
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said Invest NI was continuing to build relationships with Avaya.Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said Invest NI was continuing to build relationships with Avaya.
"I understand that local employees have been verbally briefed about Avaya's intention to consolidate as part of a European restructuring plan," she said."I understand that local employees have been verbally briefed about Avaya's intention to consolidate as part of a European restructuring plan," she said.
"At this stage, it is not clear what exactly this means for Northern Ireland but Invest NI continues to build relationships with Avaya, including working very closely with local management, to position Northern Ireland as strongly as possible."At this stage, it is not clear what exactly this means for Northern Ireland but Invest NI continues to build relationships with Avaya, including working very closely with local management, to position Northern Ireland as strongly as possible.
"It would be inappropriate to speculate further until Avaya makes a formal announcement.""It would be inappropriate to speculate further until Avaya makes a formal announcement."
Earlier this month Avaya outlined what it called a "roadmap" for integrating Nortel into its existing business. The company said there were overlaps in some areas and that some Nortel products would be discontinued.Earlier this month Avaya outlined what it called a "roadmap" for integrating Nortel into its existing business. The company said there were overlaps in some areas and that some Nortel products would be discontinued.
Avaya, which is owned by two US private equity firms, Silver Lake and TPG Capital, bought Nortel's enterprise division out of administration for $915m last year. On Thursday, it was announced that the Hughes Christensen drill bit factory in east Belfast was to close with the loss of 210 jobs.
About 40% of staff at Monkstown work for the Avaya-owned part of the business. Parent company Baker Hughes said its operations would move to Texas.
The factory at Castlereagh has been in operation for 55 years making drill bits for the oil and gas industry.
The company made 135 people redundant last year, blaming a decline in the world market for drill bits.