15 redundancies in a month sparks MPE and Schivo protests

The union says management has breached a recognition agreement by refusing to engage with the union over the transfer or redundancies.

The actions follow the transfer of Londonderry’s Maydown Precision Engineering workforce to the Waterford-based Schivo Group which now has responsibility for the workforce under TUPE - (Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of Employment) - legislation.

Davy Thompson, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer for Northern Ireland, said: “Maydown Precision Engineering management has failed to abide by the terms of our collective bargaining agreement by refusing to engage with Unite over the TUPE transfer of the workforce to Schivo. They have proceeded to make compulsory redundancies among the core workforce, apparently targeting union members and representatives and continue to withhold approximately £10,000 in union dues collected from our members via a payroll ‘check-off’ arrangement.

“There are fears among the workforce that the 15 job losses announced so far may increase substantially into the future, a fear which has been exacerbated by the management’s attacks on Unite.

“Given his responsibility for the workforce under the TUPE legislation, I have written to the Chief Executive of Schivo requesting a meeting but, as yet, we have received no response. Today’s protests in Derry and Waterford have been organised by Unite to ensure management understand that our union is not going to roll over and allow the workforce to be decimated.

“These protest follow on from previous actions organised by the Derry Trades Council and community activists last Friday. Unless Schivo reverses course, Unite will be forced to step up our protests alongside our pursuit of legal redress and an industrial response.”