Another 95 redundancies are to be sought at engineering firm FG Wilson's three plants in Co Antrim.
Workers’ representatives at its operations in Larne and Monkstown, Co Antrim, and Springvale, west Belfast learned of the voluntary offer last night.
The company produces electricity generators but has been shedding staff recently.
Unite union official Syd Moore said: “The world’s leaders and everybody seems to be impotent in the face of this crisis.”
Recently the company, owned by US corporation Caterpillar, said 260 permanent staff were being made redundant.
Mr Moore added: “Under the current climate it hasn’t come as a huge surprise but we were just called into a meeting yesterday afternoon, we had no forewarning of what it was but we had a fair idea it was not good.”
In December, the firm laid off more than 180 workers employed through a recruitment agency at its three sites.
A spokesman for the company said: “In order to manage production levels in line with current demand for its products,
FG Wilson is proposing a further 95 redundancies in our permanent hourly paid workforce.
“We will explore ways to minimise the need for compulsory redundancies, which will include offering voluntary redundancy.
“We regret this action is necessary, however, it is ultimately in the long-term interests of our business.
“FG Wilson’s focus is on taking actions that will best position the company for long-term success and profitability during the current global recession.”
PA