Nearly 1,200 workers at Belfast aerospace company Shorts face losing their jobs, it was announced today.
Canadian parent company Bombardier Aerospace said it was laying off 3,000 workers worldwide because of "challenging market conditions".
In Belfast, local management told trade unions that 1,180 jobs were "at risk" over the next 12 months.
The cuts, follow on from 1,300 at the Belfast plant last year which were blamed on the downturn in the airline industry in the wake of the September 11th attacks in the US.
A statement from Bombardier headquarters in Canada said 3,000 employees would be laid off in Toronto, Montreal and Belfast.
Shorts currently employs 6,200 workers in aircraft manufacturing, with a further300 at the adjoining Belfast City Airport, which it is in the process ofselling. The airport sale was decided on last year during a cost-cutting exercise and anumber of bids are currently being considered.
Job cuts last year amounted to 550 permanent employees who were maderedundant, another 200 who took voluntary redundancy and 550 temporary workersand sub-contractors who were paid off.
PA