A Derry MLA has called on supermarket chain Tesco SDLP to honour its pledge to employ local companies as sub-contractors.
Colum Eastwood, the SDLP representative at Stormont, was speaking after meeting with employees from local company Rock Shopfitting Services which is facing closure as a result of a decision by its main contract, Tesco, to no longer employ it as a sub-contractor.
Rock, who employ 100 workers in the Derry area, claim Tesco are actively engaged in recruiting companies from outside of Ireland to refit their stores and implement range changes.
Mr Eastwood said: “I have now had the opportunity to meet with Rock and its employees a number of times since the withdrawal of their main contract from Tesco.
“I would appeal to Tesco to abide by their own stated objectives of employing local companies where feasible. These are 100 local employees who have served the needs of Tesco over a long period.”
He concluded: “I would encourage Tesco to fulfil their responsibly to this society, through which they gain great benefit, and to reassess a decision which may deprive these workers of earning a living.”
