Car parts company axes 99 jobs in the North

Almost 100 workers at a car components company are facing redundancy, it was announced tonight.

Trade union Unite said the redundancy of 99 workers at Japanese-owned Ryobi in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, in the North, was announced by management to the workforce.

Shop stewards fear the company could have further cuts in the pipeline in the New Year.

Unite regional organiser Jackie Pollock said: “This came as a bolt from the blue for the workers. It’s a really devastating blow which has left them reeling just before they go off for the Christmas break.”

He hit out at the company for announcing 99 redundancies.

“It means they only have to pay one month’s notice instead of the three months that it would be if they announced 100 redundancies or over.

“I am very angry that the company have used that tactic to keep the notice period down.

“The four-week consultation process begins immediately but we expect more redundancies in the New Year.”

Ryobi has been in Carrickfergus since 1990 and is a supplier of aluminium casings to Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Saab, Isuzu and Fiat.

It is the latest auto components company to be hit by the slump in car sales.

Earlier this month French car components company Montupet announced redundancies in Northern Ireland.

A decision to shut a subsidiary in the north west of the province and make just under 100 redundant – while offering the remaining dozen staff a transfer to Belfast – provoked a row over notice payments.

Workers staged a sit-in for several days until management agreed to pay the workers an enhanced notice period.

Meanwhile Belfast-based Multi Development, the UK arm of the Dutch property company Multi Corporation, announced it was halving its workforce.

The company develops and manages shopping centres across the UK and is responsible for the £400m (€289m) Victoria Square retail and residential redevelopment in Belfast, which has been picking up international and national awards in recent weeks.

The company said it was cutting its 30-strong team to 15 and would concentrate its focus on the management of existing retail assets such as SouthGate in Bath and Summer Row in Wolverhampton.

Managing director Paul Sargent said: “This is a very difficult time for companies looking to stay viable businesses during the foreseeable future.

“Cost reductions and restructuring are essential considerations in such a dramatic economic downturn where the property market is in freefall.”