Job losses at Derry City Council are necessary for the local authority “to progress from strength to strength,” according to its chief executive.
Council employees taking part in yesterday’s lunchtime protest.
Sharon O’Connor was speaking after up to 150 members of the Northern Ireland Public Alliance (NIPS) yesterday staged a lunchtime protest outside the council’s headquarters on Strand Road.
In the shake-up at the council, three senior officials are to lose their jobs. Union officials are angry Ms O’Connor has not ruled out the possibility of further redundancies.
Ms O’Connor said the “change process” was specifically aimed at creating a “new management structure” and would not affect the majority of staff other than a “possible change in alignment functions and reporting lines.”
She added: “We are working with those staff members directly in close partnership with their unions to look at a number of options on progressing with this process. I fully appreciate that change can be difficult but I want to reassure staff at Derry City Council that these changes will not affect the majority of staff.
“What I can assure them is that this change will be a positive one that will see Derry City Council progress from strength to strength. There will be new opportunities for staff to develop their skills base, experience and enhance their careers as we move into implementation of the new structure in the coming weeks and months.”
Ms O’Connor concluded: “In addition it will help improve the Council’s reputation by providing more effective public services and help us prepare for the RPA process.”
Tags:
