Council supports Seagate Derry union recognition

Councillors from across Derry City and Strabane District Council are supporting trade union recognition at the Seagate Technologies plant in the town.

The vote on trade union recognition in the company will close tomorrow (Friday, January 26, 2024).

Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said he was in no doubt Seagate workers would “welcome the words of support for their ‘Vote Yes’ campaign from representatives across the chamber.

Union recognition imminent at Seagate

Seagate workers campaigning for union recognition since October 2022

Before they entered Council Assurance, Audit and Risk Committee meeting on Monday (January 22), councillors from Sinn Féin, People Before Profit and the SDLP, joined UNITE the Union representatives and Niall McCarroll, chairperson of Derry Trades Union Council, in unfurling a ‘Vote Yes’ banner on the Guildhall steps.

People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said: “With the vote on trade union recognition being held in the coming days, Seagate workers will welcome the words of support for their ‘Vote Yes’ campaign from representatives across the chamber.

“The right to this vote has been very hard fought over many years. Workers have sacrificed a lot and had to deal with so much unfair treatment to have this vote.

“Rather than respecting workers' right to trade union recognition, corporate management has thrown up obstacle after obstacle and continues to follow a high pressure and expensive anti-union campaign.

“The agreed position of Derry City and Strabane District Council is fully supportive of UNITE's campaign and fully supportive of trade union recognition for Seagate workers.

“People Before Profit send our full solidarity to all Seagate workers ahead of the vote and urge a ‘Yes Vote’."