The Ulster Unionist Party has described today’s announcement that up to 1,080 jobs will be lost at Bombardier as a devastating blow to both East Belfast and the entire Northern Ireland economy. The Party has described the DETI Minister Jonathan Bell as sitting like King Canute as wave after wave of job losses wash over him.
East Belfast MLA Andy Allen said:
“Here we go again. For decades now the old certainties have gone in terms of jobs at Queen’s Island, Harland & Wolff and Short Brothers.
“Every time we think we have our place in the sun, along come the storm clouds. This is devastating news not just for the thousand plus workers who will lose their jobs, but also their families.
“It will be a devastating blow for the economy of East Belfast and beyond.
“Take a drive down the Lower Newtownards Road and look at the shops painted over to disguise the fact that it’s already an area of gross dereliction and deprivation.
“This announcement is further proof, not that it’s needed, that the cracks are too wide to paint over.
“We understand Bombardier is suffering globally but that does not excuse the inaction of our local Minister who must have seen this coming.”
Adrian Cochrane-Watson MLA, the party’s Enterprise Spokesperson said:
“The loss of 1,080 jobs in Belfast comes hot on the heels of the announcement of significant manufacturing job losses at JTI and Michelin in Ballymena. The Bombardier announcement is yet another concrete example of a Minister and Department that is out of touch with the grim reality of the challenges that are facing manufacturing in Northern Ireland.
“What is needed is a Manufacturing Strategy. We also need the Minister to take control of energy and come up with an Energy Strategy to address the long-standing problem of Northern Ireland having the highest business energy costs in the UK, and amongst the highest in Europe. This has had and is continuing to have a major impact on our manufacturing sector.
“Just over two months ago Minister Bell stated "Don't let anyone tell you that manufacturing in Northern Ireland is in a difficult position."
“When I gave him the opportunity to clarify his comments in the light of well over 1,000 redundancies announced in the manufacturing sector in November, he responded with typical arrogance and dismissiveness. Mr Bell said;
“I am more than happy to clarify that, because, unlike the Member, I will not talk manufacturing down in Northern Ireland. When manufacturing is growing in Northern Ireland, it does not serve any purpose for small people to try to make themselves look tall by talking about where jobs have been lost.’
“These are the comments of a Minister in denial. He is sitting like King Canute as wave after wave of job losses wash over him. Now it is a tsunami for Bombardier’s workers, with 20 per cent of the workforce facing redundancy. Jonathan Bell needs to finally admit that these job losses are real, they are happening, and they are devastating the lives of real people and real communities in Northern Ireland. He needs to stop engaging in sound-bites and selfies and actively work to address the nightmare that is befalling our manufacturing industry.
“I say to Jonathan Bell – Stand Up or Stand Aside.”