GMB warns Labour conference Bombardier crisis could lead to 'hammer-blow' of 14,000 job losses in Northern Ireland
2 min read
Theresa May went running to Northern Ireland and the DUP when her job security was threatened - workers in Northern Ireland now look to the Prime Minister to protect theirs.
GMB, the union for Bombardier workers, today warned Labour Conference the Bombardier crisis could lead to the ‘hammer blow’ of 14,000 job losses.
Speaking at the Brighton Centre, Neil Derrick called on Prime Minister Theresa May to stand up for workers in Northern Ireland
Neil Derrick, GMB Regional Secretary, said:
"Our members working at Bombardier in Belfast face a triple whammy with the attack by Boeing.
“A move by Boeing which in seeking to apply punitive tariffs from Trump’s administration could push the business to the brink.
“Boeing are pushing for an 80% penalty tariff – that’s an additional $15 million dollars on the cost of each C series plane sold to Delta Airlines in the U.S.
“The consequences would be dire.“Bombardier is Northern Ireland’s biggest manufacturing employer.
“One where we have already seen over 1,000 job cuts in the last year with 95 job cuts announced earlier this month.
“The C Series order have some real hope of job security to our members there.
“Of course it isn’t just the jobs of the 4,500 people directly employed at Bombardier that are at risk.
“If it falls then the domino effect could wipe out another 9,400 jobs in the supply chain.
“That’s 14,000 good skilled, well paid, unionised jobs in jeopardy.
“It would be a hammer blow to Northern Ireland’s economy.
“Comrades, Theresa May went running to Northern Ireland and the DUP when her job security was threatened.
"Well workers in Northern Ireland now look to the Prime Minister to protect theirs.”
