Shorts acted hastily on jobs cuts say unions

Union representatives at Shorts in Belfast have hit out angrily at senior management who they said acted hastily in announcing compulsory redundancies.

The unions were incensed at news that Canadian parent company, Bombardier, had not been as dramatically affected by the downturn in commercial aviation sector as had first been thought.

Recent news reports quoted Bombardier President and Chief Executive Robert E. Brown as saying that the crisis had a “silver lining” for the company as many of the regional carriers were flying more routes and more hours using Bombardier-built aircraft. In addition no orders had been cancelled and the company was anticipating an increase in the number of aircraft delivered in the coming year.

Union leaders were outraged at the news and a delegation met with Northern Ireland Secretary of State John Reid to demand an explanation at the suggestions that there had been no reduction in the number of aircraft required by the company to fill demand for regional jets.

Unions representatives, questioned Bombardiers stance that the crisis had reduced demand, and warned that the initial round of almost 480 jobs cuts in Belfast would lead to a reduction in core skills that were vital to the work in Belfast plant.

The union leaders are understood to have urged Dr Reid to safeguard the Northern Ireland aviation industry by asking for a delay in imposing the announced redundancies and also to reconsidering the position of financial assistance given to Bombardier.

On Tuesday, October 22, Bombardier opened a new 300,000 square-foot final assembly facility at Montreal’s International Trade Zone in Mirabel. The new Mirabel plant will employ around 600 people and will be responsible for the final assembly of Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 regional airliners.

Worldwide the Canadian company employs 79,000 people in 24 countries. In the year to January 31, 2001, Bombardier’s total revenues were Cdn$16.1 billion. (SP)