Campaign highlights workers’ jobs plan for Northern Ireland aerospace landmark

Government must broker a deal between Airbus and Bombardier to secure NI jobs and skills

New billboards are being rolled out across Northern Ireland this week telling Keir Starmer to back the plan for jobs developed by workers at the iconic Shorts enterprise in Northern Ireland. The plan has been developed to secure jobs and skills and avoid a carve-up of Shorts following Boeing’s acquisition of Shorts parent company Spirit and the decision by Airbus to only take over its own production lines in Belfast.

The workers are clear that Shorts needs to be kept as a single entity to ensure its long-term survival, and they have a plan for jobs to keep Shorts flying into the future.

The workers’ plan for jobs requires the UK government to broker a deal between Airbus and Bombardier to form a new joint venture. Both Airbus and Bombardier currently have production lines at the facility and should thus have an interest in Shorts’ continued successful operation.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Shorts workers have always been at the cutting edge of innovation. We must get behind them to save these vital jobs and skills. Unite is calling on Keir Starmer’s government to leverage its relationships with Airbus and Bombardier to ensure a joint venture happens, and then to ensure the new entity receives its fair share of public contracts and innovation funding”

An Airbus/Bombardier joint venture at Shorts would protect this lynchpin of Northern Ireland’s economy, saving existing jobs and skills while laying the foundation for growth.

The workers’ plan is supported by unions and Northern Ireland’s politicians including the first and deputy first ministers. 

Unite regional secretary Susan Fitzgerald said: “This plan has been developed by the people who know Shorts best: The workers. Their plan for jobs would be a win for the workforce and a win for Northern Ireland aerospace”.