A union is warning of an “unprecedented threat” amid uncertainty over thousands of well paid jobs.
Unite is calling on the British Government to step in over the “potential break-up” of a Belfast based aerospace firm after plane maker Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in the city.
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson is calling for “clarity around the non-Airbus operations within Belfast” after the news was announced. However Spirit is insisting that the “portion of the Belfast site that will not be divested to Airbus will retain an extensive regional/business-jet product portfolio”.
In a statement issued on Monday, union Unite said the potential break-up of the operation “constitutes an unprecedented threat to Northern Ireland aerospace, wider economy and society”.
The call follows this morning’s announcement by Airbus that it would only buy Spirit production lines within its own supply chain. The development is the latest in the wider Boeing takeover of Spirit operations globally.
Unite says that around 1,000 workers employed in the manufacture of Airbus wings will be taken on by the company directly. The 400-500 working on Airbus fuselage and other production lines for Spirit will be taken on by Airbus “but with longer-term uncertainty outside the current contract period”, the union added.
But they say that the remainder of the workforce - more than 2,000 workers - are employed on ‘non-Airbus work’. “As yet, these workers do not know the identity of their future employer and have no assurances for their employment”, Unite added.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hundreds of highly skilled Spirit workers are facing an uncertain future. The UK government must now intervene to secure not just the workers but the future of Northern Ireland aerospace. The government has huge leverage over the key players - billions in contracts and government grants go to these aircraft manufacturers.
“It cannot drop the ball and allow the collapse of Northern Ireland’s strategic and world-class aerospace sector. Government needs to deliver for Northern Ireland.”
Unite says it is “seeking the transfer of all Spirit sites and production in Northern Ireland to a single aircraft manufacturer”.
They added: “This would secure onsite and regional synergies and economies of scale and is the best way to safeguard jobs and the future of Northern Ireland’s aerospace sector. The demand is backed by all local political parties and Stormont ministers. Unite calculates that around 10,000 jobs across the whole of Ireland are reliant on Spirit Aerospace.”
Unite Ireland secretary Susan Fitzgerald added: “Aerospace is a critical and high-value sector at the heart of Northern Ireland’s economy. Production at Spirit is central to that with a supply chain extending across the region and indeed the whole island.
“The potential break up of Spirit is not just a huge threat to our members’ livelihoods but is an unprecedented threat to Northern Ireland’s economy and society.”
Alan Perry, a Senior Organiser at the GMB union, said the “best solution for the Belfast sites is to remain as one identity”.
He added: “Today’s announcement raises serious concerns over the future of more than 2,500 workers who don’t work on the Airbus Contract. GMB has engaged with Stormont ministers who agree a carve up does not benefit the company or the wider Northern Ireland economy.
“We will now take our campaign to Westminster on Wednesday [30 March] to meet with officials from the dept of business and trade. This company has been here for more than 150 years and we will fight tooth and nail to protect and maintain jobs for future generations.”
A Spirit spokesperson said: “Airbus’ acquisition of the A220 wing program should create opportunities for it to build upon Spirit’s history and streamline its own production. The portion of the Belfast site that will not be divested to Airbus will retain an extensive regional/business-jet product portfolio including horizontal stabilizers, fuselage sections, engine nacelles and flight components for Bombardier aircraft, and nacelle components to support Rolls-Royce engines.
“In addition, Belfast will maintain Aftermarket, as well as Space and Defence activities.”
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson said the Airbus deal “is only a partial solution”.
The East Belfast MP said: “The Airbus deal for part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in Belfast is welcome in terms of the certainty it provides for those staff involved in the A220 manufacturing and assembly operations. However, my preference was always to see a single buyer for the entire site.
“The current deal still leaves significant uncertainty for those staff in the non-Airbus operations in Belfast. It is important there is clarity quickly around the entire Belfast operation. This is significant employer not just within East Belfast but Northern Ireland with a highly skilled workforce. There is a continued need however to build on previous efforts to bring more investment to this sector.”
The deal Airbus deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit business. In Belfast, Airbus will take ownership of the A220 wing manufacturing and assembly facility.
The A220 mid-fuselage work will also transfer to Airbus if a buyer for the remainder of the Belfast site is not found prior to closing of the deal later this year.
Airbus told the BBC: “These activities are critical to Airbus’ production ramp-up and will be stabilised within the Airbus operating system. Non-Airbus operations in Belfast will transfer to Boeing or may be divested to a third party by Spirit.”
Industry Minister Sarah Jones said: "We know this will be a concerning time for Spirit workers and their families who may be affected.
"Our modern Industrial Strategy will drive growth in our advanced manufacturing sectors like aerospace across the UK, and I'll continue working closely with Spirit and other parties to ensure a good future for the remaining Short Brothers business in Northern Ireland."
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