Submitted by AWL on 7 August, 2002 - 5:53
About 4,400 workers at Short Brothers, the Canadian-owned aerospace firm in Belfast, have struck for six days over job cuts and working conditions. The striking workers were represented by Amicus and the TGWU.
The Canadian firm Bombardier wanted to reform work shifts and reduce overtime payments, under threat of job cuts. The firm had already cut 600 jobs in May and has cut more than 2,000 workers since 2001. Short Brothers is still Northern Ireland's largest commercial employer with a current workforce of 5,600.
The unions have agreed a deal for no redundancies before the end of March and the new shift pattern to be discussed as part of wider pay negotiations.
The strike action was the first of its kind at the company in 20 years.
