Coronavirus: All NI councils reviewing staffing levels, says NIPSA, after Antrim proposes laying off 73

NI Public Sector Alliance (Nipsa) assistant secretary Terry Thomas told the News Letter that all councils reeling from the lack of income from public services during lockdown are exploring all options with regards staff lay-offs.

UPDATE: Antrim and Newtownabbey ‘backs down’ on plans to lay off 73 workers, says NIPSA

Councillors at Antrim and Newtownabbey Council made a decision on Monday to make 73 staff redundant.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, a council spokesman said it is experiencing “a significant reduction” in income with the same levels of expenditure, which has created “an unprecedented financial challenge”.

It added that the UK-wide government furlough scheme was “not expected to be used by local authorities unless certain specific situations apply and in the event that we are eligible, it is likely that this will only cover a small percentage of the current budget gap”.

Thus it was proposing to decrease by 73 the number of agency and short service staff “subject to trade union consultation”.

Mr Thomas told the News Letter that he was getting reports from all councils about the loss of income while services are frozen.

But he said Nipsa was surprised at how Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council went about the matter.

“Local or central government don’t seem to have been consulted. They should be considering putting staff on furlough before redundancy. They don’t seem to have applied government guidelines on this, which initially urge redeployment of staff at present and then to consider furloughs as a last resort.”

Mr Thomas said all 73 workers were eligible for furlough, even agency staff.

Asked if other councils are considering laying off staff he replied that, based on information provided by Nipsa members across local authorities, “all [11] councils are looking at options. One council is not doing anything at the moment while others have applied for confirmation about furloughing staff. We know of one formal application for furloughs from a council”.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Sinn Fein councillor Michael Goodman said his party opposed the proposals, while SDLP councillor Ryan Wilson said the Northern Ireland Local Government Association has encouraged councils to avail of the furlough scheme.

The BBC reported last night that the council was still in talks with unions over the 73 jobs and that Fermanagh and Tyrone Borough Council believes its staff are eligible for furlough.

Belfast, Newry, Mourne and Down and Derry City and Strabane councils all said they had not made any similar decisions on staffing.

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