Business

Ex-Wrightbus workers call for public to support Sunday morning protest outside Ballymena church

One of the banners that appeared outside the Wrightbus complex in Ballymena yesterday
One of the banners that appeared outside the Wrightbus complex in Ballymena yesterday One of the banners that appeared outside the Wrightbus complex in Ballymena yesterday

DISGRUNTLED former workers of Wrightbus have called for public support for a Sunday morning protest outside the Green Pastures Church in Ballymena.

A considerable number of the 1,200 people made redundant at the busmaker on Wednesday have focused much of their anger on the company’s largest shareholder Jeff Wright.

Described by the Green Pastures church as its ‘lead pastor, founder and visionary’, reports that Mr Wright had left the country during the week are believed to be incorrect.

It’s understood he will be present for Sunday’s 11am service at his church, where former Wrightbus employees are planning to stage a picket from 10am.

In a statement yesterday, the organisers of the protest pointed the finger of blame for the collapse of the company at the feet of the group’s directors and management.

Issuing a series of demands, they have called for a UK Government bailout package and an independent inquiry into ‘financial mismanagement’ and the Wright Group’s links to a number of religious organisations connected to Jeff Wright.

The ex-workers have also called for full disclosure of communications and documentation of what transpired between potential buyers and the company’s directors and management in the lead up to the administrators being appointed.

“We are in distress; our families are in distress and we want answers,” read the statement.

Despite appearing to step aside from the running of the company in 2014 to pursue his religious interests, Mr Wright continued to own 68 per cent of Wrightbus’ parent owner The Cornerstone Group up until the point administrators were appointed on Wednesday morning.

Mr Wright is still the controlling party of Whirlwind Property, which owns the Wrightbus site. The property company was not part of the administration procedure.

Green Pastures, the church Mr Wright set up in 2007, is understood to have been the main beneficiary of £16m of donations made by The Cornerstone Group to evangelical Christian causes over a six year period between 2012 and 2017.

In a statement yesterday issued through a PR company, Green Pastures church said it was “devastated” and “heartbroken” by the job losses at the Wrights Group.

“We understand the hurt, anger and confusion felt by so many, as many within our own congregation have been personally affected by these job losses and we are doing all we can to support them at this time.

“As with any donation we receive as a church, we are incredibly grateful for the support the Wright family have offered us. They, along with many others, chose to be generous when their family business enabled them to do so.”

But the intervention has failed to stymie the anger in Ballymena. Yesterday a banner appeared on the fencing outside the former Wrights industrial complex. Bearing a bible reference, it stated: ‘For the love of money is the root of all evil.’

The banner was later removed by security, but was later replaced by a number of Wrightbus uniforms, which were pinned to the fencing with markings referencing Jeff Wright.