Schlumberger confirms job cuts at its Newtownabbey plant

A total of 37 roles are under threat at the firm’s Cloughfern Avenue facility, which supplies products and services to the oil and gas industry worldwide.

“Since last summer we have been severely impacted by the oil and gas industry downturn. Unfortunately, a further weakening of the oil price has delayed the anticipated market recovery and as a result, we are facing a reduction in activity and as a service industry we have to match our resources with demand,” a Schlumberger spokesperson said.

“We have entered into a collective consultation process regarding a headcount reduction. During this period, Schlumberger Belfast management will meet with employee representatives to discuss options.”

Speaking after meeting union representatives at the Newtownabbey plant, Unite Deputy Regional Secretary, Jackie Pollock said: “Northern Ireland is still reeling in the wake of announcements of large-scale job losses across our manufacturing sector over the past fortnight. This news from Schlumberger is the latest in a cruel series of blows to workers in the weeks before Christmas.

“The company is seeking 37 job losses, slightly more than a tenth of the total workforce at their Newtownabbey site.”

He added: “This announcement reflects the particularly sharp downturn in the oil and gas industry serviced by Schlumberger. Unite will be engaging with management to attempt to mitigate these job losses and to secure the best possible redundancy package for our members affected.

“We are calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that workers who have lost their jobs here, as in all other recent cases, receive the same support from statutory agencies as has been promised to those who lost their jobs at Michelin.”

The Schlumberger announcement comes just a week after Caterpillar confirmed that it was cutting 100 jobs across its plants in Monkstown, Larne and West Belfast.