Over 500 job losses across Bombarider and Schlumberger
It has been announced on Thursday morning that there could be more than 500 job losses across the Greater Belfast area.
Last updated 26th Oct 2017
Around 280 job cuts are being brought forward at Bombardier, while oilfield company Schlumberger has announced it will close its site in Newtownabbey.
That will lead to over 220 job losses at the company.
Announcing the latest redundancies, Bombardier said: "Following the 7,500 global workforce reductions announced by Bombardier Inc last October, we continue to review our manpower requirements in Belfast and regret to confirm that we must reduce our workforce levels by around 280.
"Those impacted will be functional support personnel, including managers and professional staff.
"We acknowledge the impact this will have on our workforce and their families and we continue to explore opportunities to help mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies.
"However, we need to continue to cut costs and improve the efficiency of our operations to help ensure our long-term competitiveness."
Unite the Union has been seeking discussions with representatives from both companies.
“The jobs to be lost are functional as opposed to operational meaning losses will be concentrated outside the main production lines but this will be devastating news for the workers concerned and their families in the run-up to the end of the year," said Unite Regional Coordinating Officer Davy Thompson.
“Unite is calling on management to review this decision. We do not agree with the case being made against retention of functional staff onsite.
"This decision is premature given the potential for jobs growth in the C Series and opportunities for additional employment on site with existing legacy products.
“At a time when the unions and the broader Bombardier workforce in Northern Ireland are leading efforts to put the pressure on political leaders to use their leverage on Boeing and the US administration to rescind the 300% tariffs threatened on the C Series, it is very saddening that our efforts are rewarded by this announcement.
"Unite is calling on Bombardier to reconsider these redundancies and lift the threat to its workers in Northern Ireland at this time."
Susan Fitzgerald, Unite Regional Industrial Officer, said:“This is devastating news for the more than 220 workers employed at the site who now face losing their jobs as a result of this decision made by Schlumberger’s global corporate management.
"The company is a key employer in the Newtownabbey area which will suffer the impact from the loss of jobs in this high value-added company.
"Today’s announcement is also another hammer blow for Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector.
“Unite will be seeking urgent meetings with Schlumberger to demand answers as to how they can justify a decision to close their site in Northern Ireland when the crunch affecting the oil and gas sector is a global one and affects all locations equally."