Councillors at odds on Call Centre Campaign taskforce

Significant differences emerged between political parties in Derry City and Strabane District Council following a presentation to councillors from representatives of the Derry Call Centre Campaign (DCCC).

The DCCC representatives had requested Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) establish a working group of unions and councillors to intervene when jobs in the area are at risk; when working conditions are poor; and where staff in Derry are underpaid, compared to their UK and Irish counterparts.

Cllr Brian Tierney (SDLP) said he did see a role for a taskforce but one led by Derry Trade Unions Council (DTUC) as opposed to DCSDC.

Cllr Christopher Jackson (Sinn Féin) said his party was “far from convinced” a taskforce was “the pathway that is going to achieve any sort of real outcome for workers in this city and district”.

A deputation from DCCC, established by the union Aegis to “improve pay and working conditions for a major local industry” had been invited to speak at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee.

Immediately before the meeting, DCCC supporters assembled in Guildhall Square. The DCCC deputation comprised Brian McDaid (assistant general secretary, Aegis) and Gareth Moore (regional organiser, Aegis).

The invitation to address Council followed the unanimous passing of a motion brought before full Council on March 30 by Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit).

Referencing the ongoing situation at Firstsource Solutions call centre, based in the city’s Springtown Business Park, Gareth Moore told councillors if the working group was established, it would mean Council could help workers in these circumstances in future.

Derry News has previously reported on a number of senior Firstsource staff members leaving the firm to take up employment with a company called Results CX, prior to the announcement of Firstsource redundancies in the city.

Firstsource employees subsequently learned the Derry jobs were being transferred to Results CX, which was also involved in the ongoing redundancy negotiations.

Mr Moore said: “We have a wealth of knowledge and talent within this city and could create a taskforce of elected representatives and representatives from the trade unions, co-ordinated through the Derry Trades Union Council (DTUC).

“This taskforce could engage with businesses, supported by the trade union expertise to ensure that the appropriate questions and challenges are put forward and the actions of the business are scrutinised to ensure best practices are maintained and workers are supported.”

He told councillors that when “situations” such as Firstsource arise “we do, within this city and region, need to set up some kind of force where we can rapidly and in a co-ordinated fashion respond to these concerns.

“We don’t have a magic wand to make everything perfect but we are very confident we know how to make things better.

“We can’t let political divisions stop us from uniting. We want every party, every member of the Council to unite behind workers in Derry, not just to save jobs but to improve pay and conditions.”

The DCCC proposal to establish a taskforce of elected representatives and representatives from the trade unions, co-ordinated through the Derry Trades Union Council (DTUC) formally moved by  Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) and was seconded by Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent).

Cllr Brian Tierney (SDLP) said the idea of a taskforce made “a lot of sense”.

He added: “When we are looking at pay and conditions and job losses, we often find we are on the back foot when these things are announced and we are trying to firefight and react to what’s going on. 

“A lot of the time, while we are trying to do this, the decision has already been made by the company and we are trying to manage that while also trying to manage the fears of workers. Unfortunately, in the city and district, it is large numbers of workers we are dealing with.

“I do see a role for some type of a taskforce but I see it more being led by DTUC and looking for support from elected representatives. That has been forthcoming on all of these issues.”

Cllr Christopher Jackson said there was a clear distinction around the role of a trade unionist and the role of a local council.

He said: “I would see our local council as a key player in terms of engaging with current employers and any potential employers and to try and attract investment to the North West, to create jobs, to create better paid jobs, and, in turn better conditions for workers.

“I want to see our council officers engage those investors, those companies, to talk about the barriers to investment, to identify any gaps in the skill base and then work in partnership with our universities and our further education sector to address and fill those gaps.

“With all due respect, I don’t want to see our council officers being involved in any sort of campaign to potentially put off investors. We want to send a clear message that Derry and Strabane are open for business. We want to create jobs. We don’t want any potential employer being fearful of their internal business being discussed in an open forum in the council chamber. That is not what we are about.

“We have serious concerns about setting up structures that could potentially put off investment and put jobs in jeopardy through what is undoubtedly a well-meaning proposal. There are ramifications we are very mindful of and our position is clear. We want to send out the message, Derry and Strabane are open for business.

“We want to attract investment. We want to support trade unions to ensure the jobs that are created are well paid and conditions are adequate. So, in relation to the proposal, we are far from convinced it is the pathway that is going to achieve any sort of real outcome for workers in this city and district.”

At this point, meeting chairperson, Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP) proposed officers from DCSDC engaged with DTUC to establish potential terms of reference for the taskforce, which would come back before the committee.

The DCCC representatives agreed with this proposal and it was passed unanimously by the members of the Governance and Strategic Planning Committee.