Jobs Unravelled As Global Downturn Hits Carpet Firm

A top name in the local textile industry is to shed jobs.

Ulster Carpets - which currently employs more than 400 people at its factory in Portadown - is set to lose 35 full-time employees at its Co Armagh facility.

The company blamed the job losses on the "global economic downturn" which it said had impacted on its order book.

It said it hoped to avoid any compulsory redundancies and had started "statutory consultation with the trade union".

Managing Director Nick Coburn told the BBC last night: "We make this announcement with great regret and after all other options have been exhausted."

He said that the global financial turmoil had taken "a heavy toll on consumers and businesses leading to a need to cut production levels for the foreseeable future".

The company said it was offering an extensive redundancy package with both an enhanced element and ex-gratia payment.

It added that counselling and training for new job applications would be provided for anyone affected by the redundancies.

The announcement has been followed by a call today from the trade union involved which is pressing for a meeting with the management.

The BBC has reported that Sean McKeever, from the Unite union, said its members had not been expecting the announcement.

"Obviously this is a devastating blow to our members within Ulster Carpets," he said.

"It comes as quite a shock, bearing in mind announcements Ulster Carpets had made a number of months ago about savings that were made in energy - up to three quarters of a million pounds - and also a £15m investment package."

(BMcC)