LISTEN - NI Bombardier workers consider strike action

by Q Radio News

Bombardier workers are deciding whether or not to take strike action following the company's latest round of redundancies.

The Canadian firm announced job cuts here earlier this month with up to 35 compulsory redundancies and around 40 voluntary.

In response to workforce concerns, today Unite and GMB Union reps are launching a ballot on industrial action with the local workforce.

Susan Fitzgerald, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer responsible for her union's members in Bombardier, challenged the company's Montreal based corporate management over their most recent job-losses announcement. 

Mrs Fitzgerald said, "Bombardier’s global management in Montreal appear to be intent on driving forward a disinvestment strategy leaving many in the workforce questioning whether there’s any room in that vision for their sites in Northern Ireland.

"The unions have come together to challenge the company to come clean on their future plans for Northern Ireland and to ‘open their books’ on the underlying plans they have to address the financial demands of bondholders.

“Bombardier’s employment in Northern Ireland has halved since 2014. We cannot sit back and watch as Bombardier goes the same way as Belfast shipbuilding, with jobs cuts ongoing until the very sustainability of operations is at risk.