'Shorts jobs losses will be devastating blow'

12.00.00am GMT Wed 5th Mar 2003

ALLIANCE Councillor Naomi Long has said that the announcement that almost 1,200 jobs are under threat at Shorts is a major blow to the area.

Cllr Long said: "After around 1,300 people lost their jobs at Shorts last year, this comes as a devastating blow to East Belfast.

"What is frustrating is the way in which the announcement was made. When workers and unions are not kept informed of developments like this, it makes any negotiations that follow more difficult.

"While job losses in the aerospace industry are a global problem, this will in no way comfort those who now face redundancy, and it is up to all of us who represent the area to do what we can to minimise the economic damage that this will cause to East Belfast."