SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan is to meet the Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency Tommy O’Reilly in Belfast tomorrow over fears that up to 30 jobs could be lost at the Agency’s Lisahally satellite unit on the outskirts of Derry.
SDLP MP Mark Durkan will meet chief executive of the Social Security Agency Tommy O’Reilly over Lisahally job fears.
Mr Durkan told Derry Daily, “I am very concerned about the serious implications for 30 staff at Lisahally.
“This move by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is no reflection on the performance and efficiency of these workers but stems from the DWP’s deliberate drive to privatise support services.
“There would be little real prospect of getting DWP to reverse their position which is already contracted – and any stay that might be achieved at that end would be vulnerable in their next wave of cuts.
“The Social Security Agency owes it to these staff to try to protect their employment and I therefore want to talk to the Agency about any possible work streams which could be reassigned for them.
“We will also need to look at other possible deployments for the staff, but it needs to be recognised that many of them could not really use offers of posts that have undue travel.
“Indeed, some of the staff opted into the unit in order to relieve the personal and family strain of travelling to Belfast.
“It would be particularly unfair if staff whose own welfare and considerations in relation to their current posting should fall victim to a policy-driven change which ignores the quality of their work.
Tags: