The company recently announced it is to axe over 200 jobs and close its site in Monkstown, Newtownabbey, over the next 12 months.
East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson met with Mr Robert Kennedy and raised a number of issues on behalf of Unite the union.
Mr Dickson said: "The company has suffered from 'global buffeting' in the mining industry, which has suffered a huge downturn in the last year. This has resulted in the need to reduce the production of large generators, made in the Larne operation, by some 80%.
"I do believe that management is attempting to deal with the situation with the best interests of its NI workforce to the fore. For example, it will move the axel making operation from Europe to the Larne operation. It will eventually move that part of its manufacturing to the Springvale site, leaving Larne to subsume the need for generators when the mining industry picks up again. It is, however, very unfortunate that the Monkstown plant will be closing.
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"There are many workers from NI who service these generators across the world. With the reduction in sales over the short to medium term, the existing products will require more service from these technicians.
"Brexit is a major concern to this worldwide workforce, as their residency status, post Brexit, may cause serious issues.
"The situation created by Brexit, where technicians and support staff from NI (and elsewhere in the UK), ply their trade within the European Union and further afield, will be of great concern to them.
"I was especially pleased, but not surprised, to be told that the schemes put in place to provide opportunities for apprenticeships, by my colleague Stephen Farry, whilst Minister for Employment & Learning, had been embraced by Caterpillar to utilise the skills it required to service its EU and global customers."
(CD/LM)
