The Ulster Unionist Party’s East Belfast MLA, Andy Allen, has described the announcement by Bombardier that 95 jobs are at risk of redundancy due to the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation and aerospace sectors, as another blow to the dedicated workforce, and said that it is imperative that the Northern Ireland Executive proactively work to help safeguard jobs.
Andy Allen MLA said:
“Bombardier is a mainstay of the Northern Ireland economy and in particular the local manufacturing industry, so the news that a further 95 jobs are at risk of redundancy should be of concern to us all. My thoughts are with the workforce and their families at this difficult time.
“Bombardier provides the type of high quality, high paying manufacturing jobs that our economy so desperately needs, and in addition to its own employees, supports many more jobs in the local supply chain. Indeed, in 2017 it was estimated that the wages of Bombardier’s employees put £158 million into the local economy annually.
“We have contacted management at Bombardier to ensure they receive all the assistance possible, but the sad reality is that Bombardier is only one of many local businesses who have been affected by the impact of COVID-19. This announcement highlights just how vital it is that the Executive has a comprehensive recovery plan in place as a matter of extreme urgency to assist businesses as we move forward, in order to protect as many jobs and businesses as possible.”