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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bus-builder proposes 235 job cuts | Bus-builder proposes 235 job cuts |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The UK's largest independent coach-building firm, Wrightbus, has announced plans to make 235 staff redundant. | |
| The Ballymena-based company, which employs 1,000 people, said a 90-day consultation process had begun. | The Ballymena-based company, which employs 1,000 people, said a 90-day consultation process had begun. |
| "We will be actively working with union and employee representatives to explore ways in which we can reduce the number of job losses," a spokesperson said. | "We will be actively working with union and employee representatives to explore ways in which we can reduce the number of job losses," a spokesperson said. |
| He said the sudden cancellation of a substantial order from one of its largest customers was a factor. | He said the sudden cancellation of a substantial order from one of its largest customers was a factor. |
| "By acting now, we hope that the company will be able to weather the current economic downturn and emerge stronger for the future," he said. | "By acting now, we hope that the company will be able to weather the current economic downturn and emerge stronger for the future," he said. |
| DUP assembly member Ian Paisley Jnr said the job losses would be "a devastating blow to not just the North Antrim economy but the Northern Ireland economy as well". | |
| "Whilst there is little that can be done to regain cancelled contracts, I would call on the government to make whatever expertise it has available to the company and these workers," he said. | |
| SDLP North Antrim assembly member Declan O'Loan said: "The loss of skilled, well-paid jobs will be a crisis for those families when there are not many alternative jobs around. | |
| "Unfortunately, companies have to react to the state of their order books, and the recession is hitting every sector." |