Causeway Coast and Glens Council cuts ‘will hit staff’

The Causeway Coast and Glens Council approved sweeping cuts to services and events funding last week alongside the largest rates hike of any of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils – an increase of 7.65%.

The cuts include a reduction in maintenance works at a newly opened forest park in Garvagh, the withdrawal of funding for the Waterworld attraction in Portrush which will now close, and a range of other measures to save a total of £2.5 million.

Alan Perry, a regional organiser for the GMB union across Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils, said: “There is no doubt that the cuts that have already been approved will have a negative impact on staff.

“For example, the decision to close Waterworld – we have to ask what will happen to the staff working there.

“If the council is carrying out less work then it is difficult to imagine how that would have no impact on the staff.”

Mr Perry said further cuts are likely in the future.

“We firmly believe that there will be further decisions that the council will have to make that will have a negative impact on staff,” he added.

“Looking ahead, I am convinced there will be similar decisions to be taken in future.”

Earlier this month, the News Letter revealed that the council had told staff in its leisure services department that it “reserves the option” of terminating contracts in the absence of an agreement on new terms and conditions.

Workers have been employed on different contracts left over from the so-called ‘legacy councils’ which combined five years ago to form the Causeway Coast and Glens Council.

Councillors recently voted in favour of a move to ‘harmonise’ staff contracts in the leisure services department.

It had been estimated that council could save nearly £100,000 per year by agreeing new contracts, but councillors voted against instructing officers to enter negotiations with the intention of shaving £100,000 from the budget.

This followed a warning from the GMB that industrial action was likely to follow if the council refused to back down on what the union described as a “pay cut” for staff.

Mr Perry said the “threat to sack staff” if agreement can’t be reached has yet to be removed.

“That has not been removed in any way shape or form,” he told the News Letter.

Meanwhile, all 11 of Northern Ireland’s councils have now struck the rate for the year ahead.

Ards and North Down opted for a 5.64% increase, Antrim and Newtownabbey for 1.99%, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon for 2.48%, Belfast for 1.99%, Derry and Strabane for 3.37%, Fermanagh and Omagh for 2.79%, Lisburn and Castlereagh for 3.98%, Mid and East Antrim for 1.74%, Mid Ulster for 3.24% and Newry, Mourne and Down for 2.85%.