Textile factory jobs under threat

Thirty jobs could be lost at the County Down firm

The workforce of a County Down textile company are facing redundancy after the firm lost a major contract for yarn.

McCleery Technical Yarns, Killinchy, employs 30 people at its Balloo Mills, Ballybunden Road site.

A company spokesman said that, as a result of price pressures, the company had lost its biggest customer who accounts for almost half of the output.

It is understood that Camira Fabrics Ltd has decided to make its own yarn and may shift operations to Lithuania.

The company said it competed in a "fiercely competitive global textiles market" and, like so many other textiles companies, faced "extremely stiff competition" from low cost countries in Eastern Europe and the Far East.

A spokesman said the company had entered into a process of consultation in order to explore ways of avoiding any potential redundancies.

Management met union representatives on Monday to inform them of the situation.

The Amalgamated Trade and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) said it was told by McCleery management that the loss of its biggest customer would have "a significant impact" for the future of the Killinchy factory and that all employees would be affected by Camira's decision to end the contract.

Union official Maurice Cunningham: "This is a severe blow to the indigenous textile industry in Northern Ireland.

"The workforce is shocked and dismayed at the news, especially if Camira's intention is to move its operations to Lithuania."

If the firm closes down, it will signal the end of the textile industry in that part of County Down.

McCleery was originally part of the well-known Lamont Group and was subject to a £1m management buy-out six years ago.