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645 jobs going at aerospace firm 645 jobs going at aerospace firm
(10 minutes later)
More than 600 jobs are going at the Belfast aerospace company Shorts, parent company Bombardier has said.More than 600 jobs are going at the Belfast aerospace company Shorts, parent company Bombardier has said.
In a statement the firm said that 645 jobs would go and all levels, including management, will be affected.In a statement the firm said that 645 jobs would go and all levels, including management, will be affected.
It said there was lower demand in the worldwide market in regional jets which has led to fewer orders. About the same number of jobs are going in Canada. It said there was lower demand in the worldwide market in regional jets which has led to fewer orders. Nearly 500 jobs are going in Canada.
Consultations will begin with the unions to try to keep the compulsory redundancies to a minimum.Consultations will begin with the unions to try to keep the compulsory redundancies to a minimum.
The firm said it would cut production of the CRJ700/900 regional jets and increase production of the Q400 turboprop.
Part of the turboprop is made in Belfast, but not enough to offset the cutback in regional jet production.
The Belfast jobs will start to go in January 2007, the company said.
Bombardier president Pierre Beaudoin said they had to ensure "we achieve our goal of increased profitability and our success in the long term".
'Success goal'
"This means making difficult but necessary decisions," he said.
"We recognise the impact this decision will have on our affected employees and we will treat them fairly and with respect."
He said the workforce level at Bombardier's Toronto facility where the Q-Series and Global aircraft are manufactured will rise by more than 800 to reflect the increase in production levels.
But he added this would see 1,330 fewer employees at its Montreal-area facilities and at its Belfast site over a nine-month period starting October 2006.
Bombardier Aerospace employs about 26,900 globally with 5,300 of them in Belfast.