Manufacturing crisis proof

Unite has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to change its approach to manufacturing after a triple jobs blow.

In the space of a few hours yesterday three major Northern Ireland manufacturers: Schrader, Invista and Caterpillar indicated they were planning almost 200 job-losses.

Reacting to the news Davy Thompson, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer, said: “Those who say manufacturing in Northern Ireland is not in crisis are in denial. The apathy and inaction that have characterised the NI Executive’s approach to manufacturing must end now.

Sat on hands

 

“In 2014, our manufacturing sector delivered more than £18 billion in external trade but our political representatives have sat on their hands in relation to the challenges facing the sector.”

Nearly one hundred jobs are to go at the Northern Ireland operations of Caterpillar before the end of the year, the company has said. Caterpillar employs about 2,000 people in plants at Larne, west Belfast and Monkstown.

Meanwhile Schrader are to close forty-two posts and Invista are to seek up to forty-eight redundancies.

The union has pointed out that 2,500 high-value manufacturing jobs have been lost in Northern Ireland in the past year.

“Unite is strongly represented in both Caterpillar and Invista and share the concern of our members who are now faced with the threat of redundancy in the run up to Christmas.

“Both these announcements have the potential to threaten further employment along the supply-chain. The net impact of these losses is likely to multiplied three times when indirect and induced jobs lost are included,” added Thompson.

Manufacturing strategy

 

Calling for action from politicians at Stormont Thompson said: “Unite and Manufacturing NI have repeatedly made the case that the NI Executive must develop and implement a manufacturing strategy to meet the needs of the sector.

“Unite also considers the lack of statutory protections for Northern Ireland employees means that workers here are disproportionately likely to lose out when a multi-national operation considers a global reduction.”