550 jobs lost as seat belts plant shuts

THE manufacturing sector in the North suffered another body blow yesterday when a Japanese-owned car components company announced it was closing its east Belfast factory with the loss of 550 jobs.

TK-ECC, formerly known as Fisher Body, which makes seat belts, is expected to close in weeks following negotiations with the unions. Managers are blaming “overwhelming competition” from abroad.

Peter Williamson, regional secretary of the Amicus union, said the announcement had come “completely out of the blue” for both the workforce and union.

The news came little more than 12 hours after the announcement of the loss of 270 textile jobs at Sion Mills, Co Tyrone with the closure of Herdman’s spinning mill. The company said in a brief statement announcing the closure that it was starting a 90-day formal consultation with employees in anticipation of the closure of the factory at Dundonald on the eastern outskirts of Belfast.

It said the decision followed “the shareholders’ decision not to provide future financial support to the company.” TK-ECC was established by General Motors in 1979 and has long been one of the largest manufacturing employers in east Belfast.

Ulster Unionist Assembly member Lord Kilclooney said he was “shocked and appalled” at the news.

Earlier this month, another east Belfast firm, Victor Stationary, said it was closing its manufacturing operation and moving it to Estonia with the loss of up to 150 jobs.