Irish IRE at Bombardier

Bombardier Aerospace’s Belfast, Northern Ireland work- force has rejected a new pay deal and is threatening strike action. Trade union representatives had actually accepted a new four-year deal that was due to take effect at the end of this coming January, but this was rejected in a shop-floor vote on October 15. The proposed package called for a wage freeze next year, followed by increases of 2, 2.25 and 2.5 percent in the three successive years.

A Bombardier spokesman in Belfast said the company is committed to reducing its production costs and still hopes to convince its employees to accept a new deal. The Belfast operation builds major airframe sections for Bombardier’s business and regional aircraft, as well as doing substantial work for other manufacturers such as Boeing and Rolls-Royce.