Northern Ireland Finance Minister Simon Hamilton has been challenged by Derry MLA Maeve McLaughlin over the future of civil service jobs at Waterside House in Derry.
Sinn Fein MLA Maeve McLaughlin.
It is feared up to 80 staff could lose there jobs as a result of outsourcing work carried out at the Derry centre.
Speaking in a Assembly debate, tabled by Ms Maeve McLaughlin, the Sinn Fein representative said her party was opposed to the privatisation of public sector jobs.
She said: “While I do not disagree with the need for a new computer system, we do oppose the privatisation of public sector jobs, the outsourcing of work currently carried out in Waterside House and the redeployment of staff with no guarantee that they would be based in Derry.
“It could mean that several staff could be forced to resign if they are unable to work in Belfast or Bangor.
“Over 20 years ago Civil Service Pension jobs were relocated to the North West as a direct result of lobbying and pressure from politicians at the time.
“This was to ensure a fairer distribution of civil service jobs throughout the north and to boost the local economy.
“The loss of approximately 80 posts will undo the positive work to secure these jobs and will also have a major detrimental impact on the local economy.
“With the prospect of 350 job losses looming due to the threatened closure of the Coleraine Vehicle Licensing Office, the North West can ill afford to lose a further 80 posts.”
Ms McLaughlin said there was concern that staff and Unions were not consulted about this project other than information being passed to local representatives.
She added: “That does not constitute consultation. Real consultation would see Unions being given sight of the key documentation at each stage of this process in order that input could be given.”
The Sinn Fein MLA concluded by asking Maeve McLaughlin concluded by asking the Finance Minister Simon Hamilton to consider the following before taking his decision:
“The impact on Civil Service Pensions staff and their families and on the local economy if any decision is taken to remove these jobs from the North West.
“The hard work and successful track record of the current staff in maintaining a high standard of service in administering the civil service pension schemes.
“The lack of real, meaningful and constructive consultation with NIPSA on this most important of issues. Why have NIPSA not been permitted to see the important and relevant documentation at the key stages of this project?”
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