Aerospace manufacturer in jobs warning

High-tech engineering: Shorts says jobs under threat

Management at the Belfast aerospace manufacturer Shorts have said jobs could be at risk if a solution to a long-running pay dispute is not found.

The warning came after talks between unions and management at the Labour Relations Agency broke up on Friday without agreement.

The discussions are due to resume on Sunday.

Union representative David McMurray said the "ball is in management's court".

"Meaningful discussions mean that the company responds to trades union requests for £1 more an hour," he said.

Recent jobs announcement

The Canadian company Bombardier Aerospace who own Shorts announced in July that they had secured the biggest ever order for regional aircraft and that the company planned to take on more staff.

The order, for 104 planes with options for another 400 aircraft, was placed by two subsidiaries of Delta Airlines.

It was for the Canadair Regional jet, sections of which are built at the plant in east Belfast.

Shorts announced that it was taking on more than 1,000 extra workers as a result of increasing orders.