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Boris Johnson will be remembered as a \u201cdisgrace\u201d if he does not intervene to help an ailing giant of a Northern Irish bus building industry, a union leader said.<\/p>\nBoris Johnson will be remembered as a \u201cdisgrace\u201d if he does not intervene to help an ailing giant of a Northern Irish bus building industry, a union leader said.<\/p>\n
Around 1,200 workers were made redundant as Co Antrim-based Wrightbus went into administration after failed attempts to find a buyer.<\/p>\n
It built London\u2019s Routemaster double-decker \u2013 dubbed the \u201cBoris Bus\u201d \u2013 which was ordered by the British Prime Minister when he was mayor and chair of Transport for London, the capital\u2019s public transport operator.<\/p>\n
Wrightbus won contracts around the world with its innovative green technology but struggled with cash flow problems and a wider downturn in the industry.<\/p>\n
Three or four potential buyers failed to materialize in recent days, a union said.<\/p>\n
This is the second major blow to British manufacturing within a week after holiday firm Thomas Cook was liquidated.<\/p>\n
Unite the union\u2019s Susan Fitzgerald said: \u201cBoris Johnson was happy to stand in this factory when buses were being named after him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has an opportunity today and in the days ahead to do something decent, to intervene, and it is in his gift to do this and nationalize Wrightbus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis workforce needs to be back across the gate producing buses, green alternative transport buses that we need for our society, that are needed for the public transport network.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe should do that, and if he does not that is what he will be remembered for, a disgrace, he has a chance to do something good here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Workers wheeled their tools from the factory on Wednesday afternoon and the gates were closed behind them.<\/p>\n
Police patrolled nearby as dozens massed in the car park and there was palpable anger and plans for a protest on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Former employees described \u201csilence\u201d in the room as they were told the news during mass meetings with administrators and management on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Stephen Wright, 47, a production manager from Ballymena, said it was a somber atmosphere as around 3,000 direct and indirect jobs were put at risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a very close-knit company and a lot of people were there a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of good friendships and relationships are coming to an end, so it is a sad day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norman Stephens, a paint shop quality inspector, has worked for Wrightbus for 30 years.<\/p>\n
He expressed sympathy for company founder Sir William Wright, who had worked hard to build up what was once one of Northern Ireland\u2019s most successful companies.<\/p>\n
Mr Stephens said: \u201cHe built it from nothing with his father and now it has went to the dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n
He asked: \u201cWho is going to employ a 62-year-old man?<\/p>\n
\u201cI have nothing now, that is it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phil McIlvenna, 37, a coach builder with a wife and seven-month-old child, spent decades at the site.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cAll along you have your hopes built up, you are optimistic, you are not making other plans based on what they have told you and now you are going to have one and a half thousand people hitting the jobs and benefits office.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unite regional secretary Jackie Pollock said it is a workforce at the cutting edge of technological advancements in the design and supply of green public transport.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust three months ago, Boris Johnson gave assurances that he \u2018will do everything we can to ensure the future of that great UK company\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a chance today to do something decent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Administrators Michael Magnay and Peter Allen, from Deloitte, said the various Wrightbus companies had around 1,250 employees and the lack of a buyer \u201cunfortunately means approximately 1,200 redundancies are being made today\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Magnay said: \u201cIt is bitterly disappointing for all concerned that despite extensive efforts over recent months it has not been possible to find a buyer who wanted to maintain the business as a going concern.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wrightbus has been a hugely profitable company in the past and based its business model on producing low-emission vehicles.<\/p>\n
When Mr Johnson was mayor he announced a lucrative order to produce London\u2019s distinctive red double-decker, an updated version of the original Routemaster.<\/p>\n
Critics at the time said the new \u201cBoris buses\u201d were too expensive and estimated that the first eight had cost \u00a31.4 million each to design and build.<\/p>\n
There were also complaints that the new Routemasters, which were longer and heavier than other models, were unbearably hot, with later batches altered to provide windows.<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson visited Wrightbus, whose owner backs Leave and supports the PM\u2019s DUP allies, during the EU referendum campaign in February 2016.<\/p>\n