Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail • Hacker News Board

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#11

Post by dingaling » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:24 PM UTC

douche wrote: post #4

Bombardier is a weird company. It's one of those huge conglomerations that is in multiple lines of business, like some of the Japanese consortiums. This article mentions their aerospace and rail lines, which I wasn't even aware of; their more visible business, as far as I know, is in ATVs, snowmobiles, and jetskis.

The snowmobiles et al aren't part of Bombardier-proper any more, that part of the business was sold-off back in 2003 to focus on the 'core' of transportation systems. They're made by BRP now ( Bombardier Recreational Products, technically, though they can't use the name ) who seem to be doing fine.

Bombardier is a running joke in Northern Ireland, where they bought Short Brothers[0] and shut-down a promising and well-advanced airliner project only to recognise that there was a market niche and launched the CRJ hastily streched from their Challenger business jet. And then a few years later, after selling over 1000 of them, discovered they owed per-hull royalties to Bill Lear ( of Learjet ) who held the rights to the original business jet design...

Every few years they lay-off hundreds of Belfast workers, then receive a big order and hastily recruit agency-supplied contractors who have no idea how to assemble an aeroplane. Guess what.. by the time they're up to speed, it's time for another lay-off because business is soft again.

[0] the industry-preferred partner for Shorts was Fokker, but uk.gov was interfering and preferred Bombardier

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#12

Post by michaelcampbell » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:24 PM UTC

I initially thought that the number of bombardier jobs (as in, the guy who drops bombs from a plane) was being reduced by 7500. I was shocked there were that many.

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#13

Post by dsjoerg » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:24 PM UTC

douche wrote: post #4

Bombardier is a weird company. It's one of those huge conglomerations that is in multiple lines of business, like some of the Japanese consortiums. This article mentions their aerospace and rail lines, which I wasn't even aware of; their more visible business, as far as I know, is in ATVs, snowmobiles, and jetskis.

Visible to who? I only know of them because I ride in subway cars they made. http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/products-service...

Nobody rides ATVs, snowmobiles and jetskis. Everyone rides the subway.

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#14

Post by JoelBennett » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:26 PM UTC

enjoyitasus wrote: post #5

Can't say no one saw this coming. They continue to build products not on time and not on budget.

It seems like they've been having financial difficulties for the last 10-20 years. It's almost like they are the Radio Shack of trains/plains/snowmobiles.

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#15

Post by douche » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:27 PM UTC

dsjoerg wrote: post #13

douche wrote: post #4

Bombardier is a weird company. It's one of those huge conglomerations that is in multiple lines of business, like some of the Japanese consortiums. This article mentions their aerospace and rail lines, which I wasn't even aware of; their more visible business, as far as I know, is in ATVs, snowmobiles, and jetskis.

Visible to who? I only know of them because I ride in subway cars they made. http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/products-service... Nobody rides ATVs, snowmobiles and jetskis. Everyone rides the subway.

I've never ridden in a Bombardier subway car. I have driven a Bombardier snowmobile.

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#16

Post by enjoyitasus » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:39 PM UTC

JoelBennett wrote: post #14

enjoyitasus wrote: post #5

Can't say no one saw this coming. They continue to build products not on time and not on budget.

It seems like they've been having financial difficulties for the last 10-20 years. It's almost like they are the Radio Shack of trains/plains/snowmobiles.

Having said that, I do hope they pull through. There was a time when someone wanted to purchase their bus/train division. Not sure why they decided not to divest, might have been able to keep those jobs while improving procuct line-up and market reach.

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#17

Post by arethuza » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:41 PM UTC

cjdkcnsnd wrote: post #9

And in a few years expect to read "Bombardier to Cut 7,500 Additional Jobs Through 2023." Such is life in a demand-limited economy, where the more companies cut jobs and pay, the more their profitability and the larger economy suffers, and the more they further cut jobs.

I remember the team I was in at the time being told in 2008 by a senior executive of the large industrial company I was at that the prevailing management consulting view on how to survive a recession was to "cut quickly and cut deep".

He then went on to explain that the management team were surprised at how quickly orders from customers were drying up.

Pointing out that if everyone was cutting quickly and deeply then it's hardly surprising that demand dries up seemed a potential career limiting move so I kept quiet.

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#18

Post by peterb » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:44 PM UTC

JoelBennett wrote: post #14

enjoyitasus wrote: post #5

Can't say no one saw this coming. They continue to build products not on time and not on budget.

It seems like they've been having financial difficulties for the last 10-20 years. It's almost like they are the Radio Shack of trains/plains/snowmobiles.

They have horrible management, which is where the "layoffs" should happen. They have great engineers, skilled craftsmen, workers, etc., but the upper ranks and board of directors are full of patronage and incest.

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#19

Post by dan1234 » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:45 PM UTC

mabbo wrote: post #2

> Chief Executive Officer Alain Bellemare said he did not expect the job cuts, which include 1,500 workers in Quebec and 500 in the rest of Canada, would affect the company's talks with the federal government over a $1 billion investment in its CSeries jet program. "Hey Federal Government, we'd like you to help us out to the tune of a billion dollars, because we're such a big important employer here in Canada... also…

They just secured a £1bn UK contract in August[0], must be their favourite number.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-37031833

Re: Bombardier to Cut 7,500 More Jobs Through 2018, Most in Rail

#20

Post by doobiedowner » Fri, Oct 21, 2016, 2:47 PM UTC

douche wrote: post #15

dsjoerg wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Visible to who? I only know of them because I ride in subway cars they made. http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/products-service... Nobody rides ATVs, snowmobiles and jetskis. Everyone rides the subway.

I've never ridden in a Bombardier subway car. I have driven a Bombardier snowmobile.

I've done neither, but I have peed myself on a Bombardier made prop plane flying in turbulence.