This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8061522.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
FG Wilson staff set for lay offs FG Wilson staff set for lay offs
(38 minutes later)
Workers at County Antrim engineering firm FG Wilson are to be laid off without pay on a temporary basis. Some workers at County Antrim engineering firm FG Wilson are to be temporarily laid off on half pay.
A spokesman said the lay offs were being made to avoid redundancies and would take effect on 1 June to match production time to demand. A spokesman said the lay offs, from three to six days, were being made to avoid redundancies.
He said the company had yet to decide how many staff this would affect. He said the move would affect half of its employees on an hourly wage between 1 June and 10 July.
The company, which was founded in 1966 and acquired by US firm Caterpillar in 1999, has factories in Larne, Springvale and Monkstown.The company, which was founded in 1966 and acquired by US firm Caterpillar in 1999, has factories in Larne, Springvale and Monkstown.
"FG Wilson continues to work hard to minimise the need for compulsory redundancies by fully investigating alternatives," a company statement said. A spokesman said: "We regret this action is necessary, however FG Wilson's focus is on taking actions that will best safeguard the future viability of the business."
"The details of precisely who this will impact and how it will be implemented are the subject of ongoing consultation with employees and their representatives and will be communicated to employees as soon as possible." He added: "In order to alleviate the impact of this on employees, the company has decided to pay each affected employee 50% of his or her current daily basic rate of pay for each day of lay off.
"We regret this action is necessary, however, it is ultimately in the long-term interests of our business." "In addition, employees have the option of using annual leave to cover the unpaid 50% of the layoff day."
In April the company announced, that a total of 95 workers were to be made redundant at the firm.In April the company announced, that a total of 95 workers were to be made redundant at the firm.
In January, the company said it was making 250 people redundant, and a month earlier it laid off more than 180 agency workers.In January, the company said it was making 250 people redundant, and a month earlier it laid off more than 180 agency workers.