Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist Party MLA for East Antrim has expressed his disappointment at news that Caterpillar- whose three site Northern Ireland facility is headquartered in his constituency in Larne- has announced job losses.
Roy Beggs MLA said:
“It is very disappointing that this announcement of job losses across the three Caterpillar sites has been made, and it is doubling disappointing that it comes just before the Christmas period.
“I have spoken to staff, and understand that the company are seeking 65 voluntary redundancies, alongside laying off 75 agency workers. This has been caused by a market downturn and the loss of some orders. However I remain optimistic that this is a temporary setback in what has been a real success story for the local economy over the past 2 years.
“The recovery of Caterpillar after devastating job losses in 2012, when it was trading as FG Wilson and was mainly manufacturing generators, has been truly impressive.
“The workforce at Caterpillar, particularly in my hometown of Larne, has shown a tremendous resilience and ability to adapt to changing market conditions. The company has diversified its product range and I am hopeful that it will continue to be successful into the future.”
