Hi °C | Lo °C Councillors in Belfast have united in support for FG Wilson staff at the company's Springvale plant and have called for any remaining jobs are protected.
The issue was debated at Belfast City Council's Development Committee on Tuesday, where members agreed to write a letter to parent company Caterpillar calling for further investment by the company in the region. Council officials also took part in another meeting organised by Invest Northern Ireland to discuss the job losses.
Councillor Mairtin O Muilleoir, deputy chairman of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, raised the item on the agenda.
"The major job losses announcement by Caterpillar is devastating news for the hundreds of families who will be affected by these redundancies," he said.
"The council wants to do all it can now to protect the remaining posts of FG Wilson staff who are from Belfast or are working in the company's Springvale plant.
"With the opening of the new E3 centre of Belfast MET, the council plans for an ambitious Innovation Centre on the Invest NI site on the Springfield Road and the close proximity of world-class companies like Andor, the proposition of Springvale is more compelling than ever. That will be our message not just to Caterpillar but to all potential investors."
