Harland & Wolff: Focus must be on securing a long-term future

Posted on July 22, 2024 by unitetheunion

July 22nd: Five years after Unite members at Harland & Wolff led the successful fight to keep the Belfast shipyard open, the union today (Monday) said that the political focus must be on securing a long-term future for the shipyard along with those in Scotland and England.

Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Harland & Wolff’s workforce and the shipyards they work in are of critical strategic importance. Five years after Unite members secured Harland and Wolff’s survival in Belfast, the political focus must now be on attracting stakeholders who are committed to building a long-term future, rather than those looking to turn a quick profit.

“I have been very clear with ministers that our union will leave no stone unturned to defend these vital assets and Unite has been engaging positively with senior government officials in order to ensure that this happens.“

Unite represents the majority of the workforce at the company.

In recent years due to the experience and skills of the workforce, Harland & Wolff has been contracted to deliver a number of flagship public and private sector projects.

Unite’s Irish secretary Susan Fitzgerald added: “Five years ago our members fought to save their shipyard. Thanks to their efforts, employment at the yard has increased dramatically. Belfast is once again a recognised centre of excellence for shipbuilding, delivering opportunities for young people and securing skills into the future. Unite will not allow that achievement to be lost.”

Posted in Northern Ireland news, Press Releases | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Strategic importance that Harland & Wolff workers continue to contribute skills to national defence

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Unite the union NI

This workforce has demonstrated an ability to deliver on nationally strategic projects

The UK clearly needs to have a strong future in shipbuilding and the legacy of shipbuilding in Belfast dates back over a century. The Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast which boasts a natural deep-water harbour and heavy lifting cranes and infrastructure faced closure in 2019 but was saved following a nine-week occupation by the workforce.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is of strategic importance that these workers continue to contribute their skills to our national defence. Our members have demonstrated their ability to win and deliver national strategic shipbuilding projects. Unite will do whatever it takes to defend our members and the shipbuilding sector.”

Harland & Wolff has recently succeeded in winning high profile contracts including the £1.6 billion contract for the Royal Navy Fleet Solid Support ships meaning the return of shipbuilding to Belfast after decades of absence. In the past five years employment has expanded by 900 per cent to more than 645 in Belfast, including 45 apprentices.

Regional secretary of Unite in Northern Ireland Susan Fitzgerald said, “This historic Belfast shipyard is critical the future of shipbuilding and to the future of Northern Ireland”.

Posted in Manufacturing, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Glen Dimplex workforce to be balloted on strike action to save jobs

Posted on July 13, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Portadown rally hears Unite demands political action to save manufacturing jobs and skills

Unite will ballot its members at Glen Dimplex in Portadown for strike action. The ballot follows a threat by the company to shutdown its sites in Portadown offshoring the production of storage heaters to Lithuania.

The threat to jobs is the latest in a series of blows to the local industrial base. More than 500 jobs have been lost at Thompsons Aero seating, more than 100 at BT and Sonoco has also recently confirmed its intention to seek redundancies.

Hundreds of workers and the wider local community gathered this afternoon (Friday 28 June) in the town for a Unite rally in defence of manufacturing jobs and skills in the Upper Bann area. The rally was called to demand action from politicians ahead of next week’s general election.

Solidarity greetings were read out at the rally from Unite general secretary Sharon Graham who said: “The workforce at Glen Dimplex is being balloted for strike action to save their jobs.

“The closure threat at Glen Dimplex is only the latest in a series of job loss blows to the local economy – a key industrial hub. The workers demand an end to offshoring and the race-to-the-bottom on workers’ pay, terms and conditions. 

“Unite will fully support these workers in their fight to save their livelihoods and the future of this profitable site.”

The ballot will open on July 15 closing on August 8. Industrial action could take place before the end of the summer.

Susan Fitzgerald, regional secretary of Unite, addressed the workforce, she said. “The Glen Dimplex workforce is highly experienced with the skills needed for a just transition to a greener future where homes and workplaces are heated renewably.

“It is disgraceful that workers who have shown such dedication and loyalty and built the fortunes of the owner Martin Naughton, the second richest man in Northern Ireland, face being cast aside so that he can offshore jobs and make even more profits.

“We are balloting our members on strike action to defend jobs and skills for the future. But we also demand action from the politicians. Continued inaction is just not acceptable – Glen Dimplex is seeking grant aid for their proposed restructuring – grant aid to offshore production. How is that possible? We need to see politicians get behind the workers’ plan to safeguard these jobs.”

ENDS…

For further information or to arrange an interview contact Donal O’Cofaigh, Unite Campaigns, Comms & Press (NI), tel. 07810 157926.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Armagh residents facing fortnight of bin strikes

Posted on July 9, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Strike action in response to council management ‘hostile environment’ for unions, especially Unite

Unite has today notified management at Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough council of two weeks of strike action by Armagh-based waste collection workers from Wednesday 17 July. 

The strike action, which will be taken by environmental services workers based at the council’s waste depot in Armagh is likely to severely impact bin collections in that part of the council.

The industrial action is a result of what Unite has branded a “hostile environment” that has been created for unions at the council. In recent weeks a Unite shop steward based at the depot has been dismissed, while five other Unite reps have faced investigations or disciplinary hearings or had their rights to represent workers restricted.

Unite the union general secretary Sharon Graham said: “An attack on one of our reps is an attack on the entire workforce. Unite will never stand by while our reps are targeted by an employer. The workers taking strike action can count on the complete support of Unite in their fight for respect, dignity and justice.”

Continue reading →
Posted in Industrial disputes, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases, Public Services | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Concerns Spirit Aerosystems jobs under threat after Boeing takeover

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Unite vows to ensure members’ jobs not placed in jeopardy

Following the confirmation that Boeing will acquire Spirit Aerosystems, Unite which represents the overwhelming majority of the Spirit workforce across the UK, has raised serious concerns about the acquisition of the company.

Spirit Aerosystems (formerly Bombardier and Shorts) is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest companies employing approximately 3,600 workers across its sites. Unite estimates that a further 7,000 jobs in Northern Ireland, are dependent on Spirit’s activities.

While most of Spirit’s production in Northern Ireland is for Airbus, approximately 2,500 jobs are tied to lines for other air manufacturers including Bombardier and Rolls Royce.  There are approximately 1,000 workers employed at the company’s factory in Prestwick and Unite is demanding assurances for the future of all jobs.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is disgraceful that workers have been left fearing for their livelihoods, as the huge corporations involved in this deal have failed to give assurances that their jobs will not be adversely affected.

“Unite’s commitment to defending our members’ jobs, pay and conditions is absolute and we will do everything within our power to ensure that Irish and Scottish workers in Spirit are totally protected.”

Continue reading →
Posted in Manufacturing, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment