Bombardier to axe 280 jobs in Belfast amid trade conflict

Canadian manufacturing giant Bombardier has announced the shedding of 280 jobs at its Northern Irish aircraft plant amidst an ongoing trade spat involving rival Boeing.

The company, which makes planes and trains, said it was cutting the jobs in order to boost competitiveness in the long-term, but did not say that the decision was directly related to the fact that the US imposed a 300% tariff on its C-series jets.

US-based competitor Boeing lodged a complaint that alleged the Canadian firm was receiving unfair state subsidies from the UK and Canada in order to win a major contract.

As a result of the US Department of Commerce's decision to institute the hefty tariff, tripling the cost of a C-Series aircraft in the US, the jobs of thousands of Bombardier employees in the UK could be at risk, particularly in Belfast where it employs 4,000 people.

Airbus recently struck a deal to acquire 50.1% of the C-series programme, which will see some of the aircrafts being manufactured in the US to avoid the tariff.

"Following the 7,500 global workforce reductions announced by Bombardier Inc last October, we continue to review our manpower requirements in Belfast and regret to confirm that we must reduce our workforce levels by around 280. Those impacted will be functional support personnel, including managers and professional staff,” a Bombardier statement read on Thursday.

"We acknowledge the impact this will have on our workforce and their families and we continue to explore opportunities to help mitigate the number of compulsory redundancies.”

Union bosses have criticised the decision and called on Bombardier to reconsider.

“Unite is calling on management to review this decision,” said regional officer of Unite Davy Thompson.

“We do not agree with the case being made against retention of functional staff onsite. This decision is premature given the potential for jobs growth in the C Series and opportunities for additional employment on site with existing legacy products."