Ritchie Says South Down Jobs Must Be Secured Following B/E Takeover

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has expressed concern for jobs in South Down following an announcement that B/E Aerospace has been sold to another US firm, Rockwell Collins.

dn_screenB/E Aerospace currently employ around 800 people at their aircraft seat manufacturing factory in Kilkeel.

Ms Ritchie has said: “This announcement will understandably cause a certain amount of anxiety particularly in Kilkeel where B/E employ around 800 people.

“It is not lost on them that there is very little overlap between the products currently manufactured by Rockwell and B/E and so they are understandably concerned about their future job security.

“As one of the largest employers in South Down, it is imperative that any significant changes in ownership or management are swiftly followed by assurances for the hundreds of B/E employees in my constituency that their future with the company is safeguarded.”

B/E Arospace is on of the world’s largest manufactures in aeroplane seats and has been operating in Kilkeel since the Seventies.