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Job cuts news 'bolt from blue' Job cuts news 'bolt from blue'
(20 minutes later)
Redundancies at a Ballymena bus company came as a bolt out of the blue, according to Northern Ireland's enterprise minister.Redundancies at a Ballymena bus company came as a bolt out of the blue, according to Northern Ireland's enterprise minister.
Arlene Foster said the job losses at Wrights, the UK's largest independent coach-building firm, was a shock. Arlene Foster said the job losses at Wrights, the UK's largest independent coach-building firm, were a shock.
On Tuesday, the company, announced plans to make nearly a quarter of its 1,000-strong workforce redundant. On Tuesday, the company announced plans to make nearly a quarter of its 1,000-strong workforce redundant.
Ms Foster said Wrights was a very good company for Northern Ireland and would be helped to get new business.Ms Foster said Wrights was a very good company for Northern Ireland and would be helped to get new business.
"This has come not only as a shock for the workers but a shock for the management as well," she told the BBC."This has come not only as a shock for the workers but a shock for the management as well," she told the BBC.
"This is a very forward looking company, very innovative... and this has come as a bolt out of the blue because a contract was simply cancelled on them over the weekend. "This is a very forward-looking company, very innovative... and this has come as a bolt out of the blue because a contract was simply cancelled on them over the weekend.
"A senior management team from Invest NI will meet the company very soon to explore what options are available and what appropriate resources can be offered. ""A senior management team from Invest NI will meet the company very soon to explore what options are available and what appropriate resources can be offered. "
On Tuesday, the Ballymena-based company said a 90-day consultation process had begun.On Tuesday, the Ballymena-based company said a 90-day consultation process had begun.
A spokesperson said the sudden cancellation of a substantial order from one of its largest customers had been a factor.A spokesperson said the sudden cancellation of a substantial order from one of its largest customers had been a factor.
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".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".
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."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."