18/02/2016

Bombardier Job Losses 'Deeply Disappointing'

The news that Bombardier is to reduce its workforce in Northern Ireland have been described as "deeply disappointing" and "extremely regrettable", by Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell and Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

Minister Bell said: "The impact of this decision will be hard felt in Northern Ireland, in particular by those personally affected. First and foremost, my thoughts are with the workers and their families as they absorb today's news.

"The company has taken this decision to rationalise its workforce across all its sites in order to ensure its viability for the future.

"Between 2002 and 2015, Invest NI offered £75m of assistance to Bombardier, including £21m for the CSeries, in support of investment commitments totalling £844.5m.

"While Bombardier has said there is nothing we can do to reverse this decision, we will continue to work closely with the company and to explore other ways to support their drive for greater efficiencies.

"While today's news is deeply disappointing, Bombardier Inc has made it clear that the decision has been taken to safeguard the company's long term future globally and here in Northern Ireland.

"I want to assure the affected staff that, together with Invest NI, the Department for Employment and Learning, and colleagues in the entire Northern Ireland Executive, we will do all that is possible to limit the impact of the redundancies and help with possible retraining."

Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry said that his department would be proactive in determining what steps can be taken to assist employees facing redundancy.

He added: "Officials will work closely with all those involved to ensure that the best advice, help and support are offered to all those affected employees at the appropriate time.

"My Department will also be offering redundancy clinics to the company and their employees. The Redundancy Advice Service works in partnership with a range of agencies including the Further Education Colleges and HMRC to provide advice and support on a range of issues."

(MH/JP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

06 April 2009
Political Unity In Face Of Job Losses
Last week's employment loss 'bloodbath' has prompted comments from MPs and MLAs from across the political spectrum, with all expressing their shock at the number of job loss announcements.
13 October 2003
Conference focuses on employment law
A half-day conference focusing on recent developments in employment law could help reduce the number of small and medium sized companies (SME’s) in the north-west that fall foul of employment legislation.
04 March 2011
Kennedy Sees Skills In Action At Bombardier
Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Danny Kennedy, has visited Bombardier's new wing manufacturing and assembly factory in Belfast.
01 November 2007
Graduate Skills In Demand
Well-qualified graduates are still very much in demand in the local economy. According to Jean Stirrup, Head of Careers, Employability and Skills at Queen's University, demand from employers continues to rise.
11 December 2017
Union Delegation Travels To Montreal To Save Bombardier Jobs In NI
A delegation from Unite the Union have travelled to Montreal to save Bombardier jobs in Northern Ireland. The announcement was made ahead of the US department of commerce's final determination on whether to put tariffs of 300 per cent on Bombardier C-series passenger jets.