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05/11/2012
Wrightbus Follows Correct Procedures To A More Balanced Workforce
SDLP regional development spokesperson MLA John Dallat has welcomed 'significant' improvements in the composition of the workforce at Wrightbus in Ballymena.
Mr Dallat met the company's Managing Director Mark Nodder together with the head of Human Resources.
Mr Dallat said: "I am satisfied that Wrightbus is following the correct policies to achieve a more balanced workforce at their Ballymena-based company. Catholic representation, which at one time was as low as 4.9 per cent, has now improved to 13.6 per cent and is moving in the right direction to reflect the local catchment area.
"In a subsidiary company, Wright Composites Ltd, the picture is even more encouraging with the breakdown now 64.1 per cent Protestant and 35.9 per cent Catholic.
"The number of applicants from the Catholic community, however, has dropped marginally from 24 per cent in 2009 to 22.4 per cent in 2010 and here there is more than needs to be done. Towards this end I welcomed the fact that Catholic schools have been visiting Wrightbus to participate in careers conventions, open days and school visits. I would encourage more schools to take up the offer to come and see a fascinating process involving a lot of teamwork with a heavy emphasis on improving skills and qualifications. Indeed, I would encourage any young person, boy or girl, considering a career in engineering to find out more from one of the job recruitment agencies that handles vacancies for Wrightbus.
"The company has, as part of its Affirmative Action Programme, put in place policies and procedures that are designed to address many issues which make it up-to-date and legally compliant with equal opportunities, grievance and disciplinary issues.
"In recent times Wrightbus has won substantial orders for new double-decker buses from Dublin Bus and CIE adding to the long-term stability of the company and maintaining a bus manufacturing process on the Island of Ireland. This is just one example of the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement which encouraged better cross-border co-operation and partnerships. It is important that both sections of our community benefit from that and here Wrightbus is on the right road, a process which the SDLP will continue to monitor and update itself on."
(CD)
Mr Dallat met the company's Managing Director Mark Nodder together with the head of Human Resources.
Mr Dallat said: "I am satisfied that Wrightbus is following the correct policies to achieve a more balanced workforce at their Ballymena-based company. Catholic representation, which at one time was as low as 4.9 per cent, has now improved to 13.6 per cent and is moving in the right direction to reflect the local catchment area.
"In a subsidiary company, Wright Composites Ltd, the picture is even more encouraging with the breakdown now 64.1 per cent Protestant and 35.9 per cent Catholic.
"The number of applicants from the Catholic community, however, has dropped marginally from 24 per cent in 2009 to 22.4 per cent in 2010 and here there is more than needs to be done. Towards this end I welcomed the fact that Catholic schools have been visiting Wrightbus to participate in careers conventions, open days and school visits. I would encourage more schools to take up the offer to come and see a fascinating process involving a lot of teamwork with a heavy emphasis on improving skills and qualifications. Indeed, I would encourage any young person, boy or girl, considering a career in engineering to find out more from one of the job recruitment agencies that handles vacancies for Wrightbus.
"The company has, as part of its Affirmative Action Programme, put in place policies and procedures that are designed to address many issues which make it up-to-date and legally compliant with equal opportunities, grievance and disciplinary issues.
"In recent times Wrightbus has won substantial orders for new double-decker buses from Dublin Bus and CIE adding to the long-term stability of the company and maintaining a bus manufacturing process on the Island of Ireland. This is just one example of the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement which encouraged better cross-border co-operation and partnerships. It is important that both sections of our community benefit from that and here Wrightbus is on the right road, a process which the SDLP will continue to monitor and update itself on."
(CD)
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