WATCH: 600 jobs at risk at Bombardier's Belfast site as industry responds to coronavirus pandemic

By Q Radio News

More than 600 jobs are set to be lost at Bombardier's aircraft manufacturing plant in Belfast amid the severe downturn in the aviation industry.

The planned redundancies include around 400 core staff members and 200-plus contractors that also work at the operation.

Bombardier Aviation blamed the "extraordinary industry interruptions and challenges" caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

There will be a 90-day consultation period on the proposed core staff redundancies.

If 600-plus jobs are lost it will reduce the workforce to around 2,900.

Last week Bombardier announced plans for 2,500 redundancies across its worldwide aviation operations.

It cited an anticipated 30% drop in the sale of its jets.

The workforce at Bombardier in Belfast was informed of the plans on Thursday morning.

A Bombardier spokeswoman said: "Bombardier Aviation announced last week that it would adjust its workforce to align with current market conditions reflecting the extraordinary industry interruptions and challenges caused by Covid-19.

"We have now reviewed our requirements in Belfast for all of our aircraft programmes and regret to confirm that we must adjust our core workforce levels downwards by around 400 to align with market demand for the remainder of this year and through 2021.

"Around 400 Bombardier core employee jobs in Northern Ireland are currently at risk of redundancy. The company will be lodging a formal HR1 redundancy notice with the Department for the Economy, following which there will be a 90-day consultation period when we will explore opportunities to mitigate the number of redundancies.

"We deeply regret the impact this will have on our workforce and their families, but it is crucial that we resize our business in line with market realities in these unprecedented circumstances."

A Bombardier spokeswoman later confirmed the company would also be "gradually releasing" members of its Complementary Labour Force (CLF) over the coming months.

Bombardier has more than 200 CLF contractors working in Belfast.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds urged the Westminster Government to step in to help Bombardier Aerospace,

She said: "Government needs to accelerate that intervention plan. I fear this will not be the last day we have bad news on the economy."

"I have been doing everything I can to make sure that happens."

Her Economy Department will help those made redundant find other employment opportunities or retrain and up-skill.

She praised firms like Bombardier and Portadown seat manufacturer Thompson Aero Seating.

"These are companies that are research and development-orientated and export-orientated," she said.

Also reacting to the potential jobs losses, Stephen Kelly from Manufacturing NI said:

"This morning’s news of 600 hundred jobs being at risk in Bombardier starts a very uncertain period for workers, their families and the supply chain but is an inevitable consequence of the rapid and aggressive way in which the Covid-19 crisis has devasted many industries, particularly aerospace.

"Whilst the NI Executive and Government’s elsewhere tentatively try to reopen their economies, it comes at a pace which will be too slow to protect jobs and livelihoods which many depend upon.  

"Each day that business remains closed is a day closer to many more jobs being lost and the consequences that brings to ordinarily healthy communities and families.

"Advanced manufacturing jobs, such as those at risk in Bombardier, are much sought after by policymakers across the globe.  Each direct job supports almost 3 others elsewhere in the supply chain, in retail, hospitality and the rest of a local economy.  

"As they begin to reopen, their likelihood of survival will depend on these well paid jobs funded by external and export sales.  

"So, whilst other sectors are correctly receiving emergency aid, it is important that our Executive step in to support the manufacturing community on an equally basis.  If not, we could find that there simply are no customers there to ensure their success on reopening.

Trade union representatives expressed concern at the announcements.

Susan Fitzgerald, from the Unite union, called on the Stormont Executive to urgently develop a strategy to safeguard the under-pressure aviation sector.

"Today's announcement of 600 job losses is a huge blow to the Bombardier workforce, their families and the economy of Northern Ireland as a whole," she said.

"Unite will do whatever it takes to support these workers but the reality is that every worker will be going home today in uncertainty and concerned for their future.

"Bombardier jobs are high-value-added, unionised jobs. The money these workers spend and the supply chain demand from this business plays a vital role in the Northern Ireland economy.

"Redundancies on this scale will have a devastating impact across the board but in the face of mounting threats to the aerospace sector as a whole, all we have seen is complete inaction from the Stormont Executive.

"Governments in many other countries have announced major interventions to safeguard jobs and skills.

"France has just announced a 16 billion euro (£14.4 billion) programme for their aerospace and aviation sectors to safeguard jobs, from engineers to airline and airport staff.

"Similar measures are needed at a UK and Northern Ireland level. Unless a specific support package is brought forward soon, including measures such as an aircraft scrappage scheme, then thousands of jobs will be lost and the UK will lose its standing as a world leader in aerospace.

"Public money invested to secure this industry would be recouped through the taxes and contributions of all those who would otherwise be forced onto dole queues and could be matched with equity-stakes and tied to a transition to greener aircraft.

"The action to save this sector needs to come from government. Where is Stormont's strategy to safeguard aerospace from the Covid downturn?"

GMB senior organiser, Denise Walker, added: "The news of 600 job losses will be devastating to workers at Bombardier and casts a shadow of uncertainty over the entire aerospace sector in Northern Ireland.

"Today's job losses will be felt by every member of our unions - it is a bitter blow.

"Northern Ireland Aerospace is one of Europe's leading aerospace regions in revenue terms - this is not a sector where a complacent laissez-faire approach from Stormont will pass. We need to see real action to safeguard jobs, skills and a future."