Commitment made by new management to union that the future will be based on permanent, direct employed staff

Unite Regional Officer for Wrightbus, George Brash, welcomed confirmation that Bamford would be opening a recruitment process to take on additional workers at Wrightbus in Ballymena to enable bus construction.

“Today’s announcement by Bamford that it will be initiating an engineering recruitment campaign will come as welcome news to Wrightbus workers. The group is already recruiting coachbuilders, welders, paint prep and spray painters.

“Unite has been meeting directly with the new owners to secure commitments that Bamford’s use of agency staffing will be strictly time-bound and that there will be a swift transition to a situation where all workers are taken off temporary and put onto permanent contracts. In addition to this we have made it clear there must be continuity on pay and conditions of employment. Unite will continue to represent our members interests on this matter.

“We will continue to engage with management and will monitor the situation – keeping our members informed at all stages. It is vital that we see investment and job creation that will provide continuity of the Wrightbus workers’ terms of employment and direct, permanent employment for all.

“This is a highly-skilled workforce and it is vital that Ballymena continues to grow as a hub for cutting-edge bus manufacturing”, Mr Brash concluded.