Latest blow to sector adds weight to calls for Manufacturing Strategy
Unite awaits a date for meeting with DETI Minister on response
June 10th: Responding to information that Caterpillar (formerly FG Wilson) plans a further jobs cull within their workforce, Davy Thompson, Regional Coordinating Officer for Unite said:
“This announcement is yet another blow to our manufacturing sector. Caterpillar, formerly FG Wilson, shed 140 jobs at the end of last year, we understand that between sixty and seventy jobs are to be lost in Northern Ireland from across the direct and agency employment cohort. This time the losses will be concentrated on the engineering and staff levels.
“In the last year Northern Ireland’s manufacturing base has suffered a series of losses with more than 1,500 job losses in prominent companies such as JTI-Gallahers in Ballymena, Bombardier-Shorts and Sirocco. Unite has led calls for the NI Executive to take action and bring forward a Manufacturing strategy to stem the losses and refocus on securing investment and job creation. Our call for a strategic approach has been supported by Manufacturing NI who represents the leading employers in the sector.
“On May 14th, I wrote to the incoming Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Jonathan Bell to ask for a meeting – it is nearly one month and we continue to wait for a date to raise our concerns directly with the Minister.
“Unite represents many of the workers affected by this announcement and despite having no formal recognition for them due to their agency status, we will represent them individually to secure the best possible terms in this difficult time”, Mr Thompson concluded.
