The loss of British Treasury jobs in Derry, Enniskillen and Newry will have “serious implications” for hundreds of other workers in border areas, a Derry MLA has claimed.
Sinn Fein’s Raymond McCartney was speaking after a cross-party MP delegation made up of his party colleagues Michelle Michelle Gildernew and Conor Murphy along with the SDLP’s Mark Durkan and Margaret Ritchie travelled to London for a meeting with Treasury Minister David Gauke to raise concerns regarding proposed job losses.
Mr McCartney said his party was determined to do “everything possible” to ensure the retention of jobs. It is feared almost 80 posts will go at the Treasury’s Tax Office at Duncreggan Road in Derry.
Mr McCartney said: “The purpose of this cross party delegation convened on the initiative of Sinn Féin with British Treasury Minister David Gauke was to impress upon him the negative impact of such job losses on the hundreds of families affected and the ramifications for the local economy.
“All of the redundancies proposed for the North are at offices located in border regions already suffering from under investment and high unemployment.
“Sinn Féin has met with staff and union reps on this issue and we support their assertions that these proposed cuts are unfair and not in line with equality impact assessments.
“While Minister Gauke is determined to achieve efficiencies in Revenue and Customs, we believe there are other more equitable ways in which he could meet these targets. The knock on effect of these redundancies on border communities will have serious implications for job security of hundreds of other workers employed in service and supply sector as well as the general retail sector.
“Sinn Féin will continue its contact with the local staff and their union representatives to brief them on the outcome of this meeting and keep them informed of any other developments.”
He concluded: “We are determined to do everything possible to ensure the retention of these jobs in Derry, Fermanagh and Newry.”
