Video: Neeson addresses Jobs Rally in Video speech

Despite dismal weather conditions, the Ballymena '˜Rally for a Future' brought a sizeable turnout onto the streets of the town centre.
Ballymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821HBallymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821H
Ballymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821H

The rally, organised by the Unite Trade Union, aimed to highlight the need for jobs and investment in the area in the wake of the forthcoming job losses at JTI and Michelin.

In fact, the march to the Broadway bandstand took place on the same day that B&Q ceased trading in the town.

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Local politicians including Ian Paisley MP and several assemblymen and councillors, incuding Deputy Mayor Timothy Gaston, turned up to show their support for the rally’s aims.

Ballymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821HBallymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821H
Ballymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821H

It may have been a little uncomfortable for the elected representatives because one of the main criticisms voiced by speakers was the perceived failure of politicians to act on the economic and employment front.

Around 150 -200 union activists, led by a pipe band, marched from the Unite offices to the speaking platform on Wellingston Street where they were applauded by several hundred onlookers.

Ireland Secretary of Unite, Jimmy Kelly, congratulated the organisers of the rally.

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He said: “Today workers, students, traders and employers in Ballymena have demonstrated that they stand as one in the demand for jobs and investment.

Ballymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821HBallymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821H
Ballymena factory worker John Allen addresses the audience on Wellington Street for the jobs rally. INBT 07-821H

“I also want to particularly thank Liam Neeson who sent a special message of support to the Rally. He has gone the extra mile and demonstrated his commitment to his hometown with real passion.

“This Rally sends the strongest possible signal to our political leaders that we need action to secure large-scale foreign investment to fill the gap left with the loss of Michelin and JTI-Gallaher.

“We will continue to build this campaign in partnership with the local community holding people’s assemblies to consider our next steps and put the hard questions to our politicians.

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“We will hold Invest NI and Ministers accountable for their promises over the last weeks – they will be judged on their delivery”, Mr Kelly concluded.

In his message of support sent from New York, Liam Neeson said: “Without opportunity , our incredible, confident, talented and educated young people will be forced to leave taking their skils and creative potential away. Today’s rally for jobs and a future shows the people of Ballymena won’t let that happen. Today is the start of the fightback.

“Let this be the first day in a campaign that wins; a campaign that delivers for everyone in our town, for all traditions and backgrounds; a campaign that lights the path forwards for everyone in Northern Ireland”, he continued.

North Antrim MP, Ian Paisley, while welcoming the staging of the rally and endorsing its overall aims and objectives, stressed that a simple strategy of attacking institutions was unlikely to help the situation.

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Speaking after attending the rally, he said: “Who could not support such a cause? I too believe we must fight to secure what we have and campaign for more investment in the future. It is easy to attack and look for someone to accuse for the job losses but my job as MP is to attract investment to the country and we must all pull together with one accord to achieve this.”

Ulster Unionist assemblyman Robin Swann said that the rally’s message was clear.

He said: “The Executive can no longer sit idly by and allow Ballymena to systematically become an economic wasteland and a jobs wilderness. It needs to get its act in gear and look to every opportunity available to bring much-needed new employment to Ballymena.”

SDLP North Antrim candidate, Connor Duncan said: “It is beyond time that Invest NI, local politicians and all other relevant bodies drew up a multi agency strategy to ensure that Ballymena and North Antrim gets their fair share of investment. We need jobs and it is not good enough for Ballymena to be simply relegated to a satellite town for Belfast. However, sadly we have seen inaction from our local MLAs and a lack of delivery from the two First Ministers. My generation needs to know that there is a future in our home and that we can shape a Ballymena and a Northern Ireland that we can all be proud of.”

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UKIP Councillor for Ballymena and North Antrim Assembly Candidate, Donna Anderson said: “UKIP has long called for urgent investment in jobs, education and training in Ballymena.

“I repeat my call for a wide-ranging economic strategy for the Ballymena and Mid and East Antrim areas.”.

point, there has been a total failure so far amongst the executive parties of old to tackle these serious issues head on.”