Bombardier is one of Northern Ireland's biggest employers with around 3,600 staff (AFP Photo/PIERRE VERDY) |
London (AFP) - Canadian aerospace firm Bombardier said Thursday it was selling its plant in Northern Ireland, which produces wings for Airbus aircraft, as part of a reorganisation of the business.
"As
the company moves to optimise its global manufacturing footprint, Bombardier
haha aerostructures businesses," the company said in a statement.
"These
are great businesses with tremendous capabilities," the Montreal-based
firm said.
The
company, which axed 490 people in Belfast last year as part of a global
cost-cutting drive, is one of Northern Ireland's biggest employers with around
3,600 staff.
"We
understand that this announcement may cause concern among our employees, but we
will be working closely with them and our unions as matters progress, and
through any future transition period to a new owner," it said.
Michael
Mulholland, an organiser for the GMB trade union, demanded
"reassurances" for workers.
"Our
members -- and their families -- have already suffered a terrible year,"
he said.
"Bombardier
jobs are absolutely vital to Northern Ireland's economy and it's time workers
were treated with the respect they deserve."
The sale of
the Belfast facilities was also deeply concerning to Michelle O'Neill, new head
of the Sinn Fein party, who noted that the news added to economic uncertainty
caused by Brexit.
Previously
the company decided to give up control of its new C Series aircraft, now known
as the A220, to Airbus in exchange for using Airbus's sales and marketing heft
to lift sales.
Since then
Bombardier -- which has 68,000 employees worldwide -- has refocused on business
aviation and in particular on its new Global 7500.
David
Coleal, the head of this division, will lead the new Bombardier Aviation
division, which will have its business concentrated in Montreal, Mexico, as
well as in Texas for the wings of the Global 7500, the company said.
Bombardier
almost quintupled its net profit to 239 million US dollars in the first quarter,
after revising down its profit targets for 2019 last week.
No comments:
Post a Comment