Ulster Unionist Party Finance spokesperson, Steve Aiken MLA, has called on Invest NI and the Department of the Economy to take urgent action to stem the loss of manufacturing jobs which continued today with the news that Schlumberger and Mallusk based Williams Industrial, are to close with the loss of several hundred jobs.
Steve Aiken MLA said:
“The news that over 200 jobs are to be lost at Schlumberger and a further 150 at Williams Industrial Services in Mallusk, will come as a devastating blow to the local economy not just in Newtownabbey and South Antrim, but also for Northern Ireland plc.
“These are exactly the type of highly skilled manufacturing jobs which Northern Ireland simply cannot afford to lose. My thoughts are with the workers affected and their families as they face an uncertain future.
“Invest NI and the Department of the Economy need to take urgent action to help the workforces affected by this evening’s announcements and also to secure remaining jobs. The Ulster Unionist Party has been demanding a Manufacturing Strategy for Northern Ireland for some time. It would surely be a good idea to implement one while we still have some manufacturing industry left.”