Bombardier announces 95 job losses in NI operations

Image source, Pacemaker

The aerospace company, Bombardier, has announced another 95 redundancies at its Northern Ireland operations.

The redundancies are part of 7,500 global job cuts announced last October - mostly in its railways division.

The company said it would "explore opportunities to help mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies".

The job losses, which will affect support staff, are not related to the aerospace firm's trade dispute in the United States.

The company said: "We need to continue to cut costs to help ensure our long-term competitiveness.

"We acknowledge the impact this will have on our workforce and their families".

Video caption, The history of Bombardier in Northern Ireland

Earlier this year, Bombardier signed a contract with IBM to outsource technology operations.

At the time, the firm said the deal was intended to improve productivity and reduce costs.

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, The wings for Bombardier's C-Series planes are made in Belfast

Last year, the company announced it was cutting 1,000 jobs in Northern Ireland, about 20% of its local workforce.

That was in response to severe financial pressure as cost overruns on its new C-Series jet drained cash out of the company.

It is now facing a complaint from rival firm Boeing that it has engaged in anti-competitive practices by selling the C-Series below cost in the US.

Boeing wants the US trade authorities to impose financial penalties.

DUP and Sinn F茅in leaders say that if the Boeing's complaint is upheld it would have "serious implications" for Bombardier's NI operation.