Mid and East Antrim Borough Council ‘committed to all their staff’

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council had planned to shed 73 agency and short service staff due to “an unprecedented financial challenge as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Antrim and Newtownabbey said it is experiencing a “significant reduction in its income” following closure of “leisure centres, theatres, events and other revenue generating business” while its expenditure has not reduced.

However, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said that it has “made a commitment to fulfil the contracts of all agency and casual staff within the existing terms of their respective contracts”.

A spokesperson said: “Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s staff, including agency and casual, are its greatest asset.

“Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has not terminated the contracts of any casual, temporary or staff with less than a year of service and has made a commitment to fulfil the contracts of all agency and casual staff within the existing terms of their respective contracts.

“Mid and East Antrim Borough Council remains committed to all their staff during this period, and elected members and senior management continue to applaud the great work of all staff across council.”

Minister for Communities Deirdre Hargey has urged district councils to “exhaust all options to protect workers”.

The minister said: “We must respect the rights of workers and protect jobs. Of course I share councils’ concerns about their ongoing financial sustainability.  But this a time for careful consideration of all the options before taking action.

“My officials have been working closely with councils to understand the full level of their lost income, the additional costs they have incurred in relation to the pandemic, and the extent to which they can manage the situation by making use of the Government’s Job Retention Scheme.”

“During this crisis, more than ever before, we need to show solidarity with workers across the public, private and third sectors.

“I call on councils and other employers to do all in their power to safeguard jobs so that when the current restrictions are lifted, those very workers can contribute to the economic recovery that we will so badly need.”

Folliowing the mInister’s comments, Antrim and Newtownabbey has decided to  “temporarily defer the council’s proposal to release 46 short service staff”.

A spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: “Until clarity is received, the council will continue to plan for the urgent action it may need to take in order to ensure that we can continue to provide essential services.

“The council will have no choice but to consider the position again in two weeks time should the matter not be resolved.

“Within this context, our urgent priority is to address our ongoing financial viability and the need to avoid insolvency, therefore the potential to reduce our current staffing levels remains under review.”

The spokesperson also stated: “The council have considered the minister’s recent statement and welcome her acknowledgement of the council’s serious concerns about our ongoing financial sustainability.

“We are pleased that the minister recognises the role that she has to play in assisting the council to avoid staff redundancies.

“The council needs urgent clarity about the extent to which we can make use of the government’s Job Retention / Furlough scheme and we look forward to hearing from the minister over the coming days with regards to this.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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