Trade unions at Belfast aerospace company Shorts are tonight seeking cross-party support at Westminster to urge the Government to take action to save jobs in the company.
Canadian parent company Bombardier announced last week that 1,200 workers were faced with redundancy because of a fall in aircraft orders - part of 3,000 being laid off by the company.
The job losses at Northern Ireland's largest manufacturing employer are on top of 1,300 posts cut last year in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States.
The first 600 workers being hit by the new round of redundancies are due to go by June.
The trade unions are approaching MPs from all parties suggesting the placing of an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to take steps to put in place funding facilities to help the UK aerospace industry and reduce the number of potential job losses in Belfast.
"We are speaking to the political parties and urging them to jointly sponsor an Early Day Motion calling for urgent government assistance," said Mr Andy McGivern, GMB deputy shop steward.
He said they were being well-received and added: "It is extremely important that the Government recognises the pressure that the aerospace industry has faced over the past 18 months and does everything in its power to explore all possible measures to mitigate job losses in Belfast."
PA