Backing Bombardier

Last week we were part of an urgent GMB delegation that went to Brussels to demand action from the EU on Bombardier.

We're delighted to report that it was an extremely positive trip. We secured a firm commitment from the EU to work together with us to try and protect vital jobs in Northern Ireland.

Bombardier had been hit with punitive tariffs by US President Donald Trump’s administration after a complaint from multi-billion rival firm Boeing that it has engaged in anti-competitive practices over its new C series planes was upheld.

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The additional penalty tariff would have upped the cost of each C series plane sold to Delta Airlines in the US by $15 million dollars.

There are 4,500 workers at the Bombardier site in Belfast – with around 1,000 working directly on the C Series planes – and the company has several other production and engineering sites across the EU which could feel the impact.

Any uncertainly and threats of further job losses could start a domino effect throughout the Northern Ireland economy.

With Theresa May failing to stand up to Donald Trump and back UK jobs, we were in Brussels to hold meetings with MEPs and European Commission trade officials.

We had a really helpful meeting with Jim Nicholson MEP (UUP), who is very experienced in EU-US relations and trade and is keen to help us fight for Bombardier jobs in N Ireland.

We also had a productive meeting with Labour MEPs Theresa Griffin, Jude Kirton and David Martin.

The European Commission explained that it had been working hard to try to get the investigation on the Boeing complaint withdrawn, and was continuing to work with other interested parties to resolve the issue.

Brussels clearly takes our members’ jobs very seriously – they’ve got our backs.

Back at home in the UK, GMB members working for Bombardier had already lobbied Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith last month, to ask for more action to safeguard their jobs.

Now it’s time for Theresa May to stand up and be counted.

If you’re on Twitter you can see more from our time in Brussels and follow the campaign by using #backBombardier

You can also watch ITV News' coverage of our the Bombardier dispute and our trip by clicking here