298 jobs to go at east Belfast plant

The firm makes seat belts for the motor industry

Union officials been told by management at an east Belfast seat belt factory that 298 jobs are to go over the next few months.

TK-ECC Limited, formerly European Components in Dundonald, is to end the contracts of more than 200 agency and temporary staff by the end of March.

About 90 permanent positions are to go by August.

Unions and management are to hold a series of meetings to discuss implementation of the redundanices and ways of reducing the numbers.

Jackie Pollock: 'Devastating news'

A downturn in the car industry is being blamed for the losses at the factory, which makes seat belts for a range of car manufacturers, including Toyota, Honda and Vauxhall.

The plant is one of the biggest employers in the east Belfast area, with a workforce of more than 800.

Jackie Pollock from the Amicus trade union said the news was "devastating".

He said the union would meet with the shop stewards to form a strategy for the way forward over the next few months.

He said they would assess ways to minimise the impact on workers.