Derry City and Strabane District Council will hold a Special Meeting 2pm Tuesday 28th July to hear from Ulster University trade union representatives regarding proposed redundancies and Magee expansion.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said:
"I very much look forward to hearing directly from representatives from Ulster University trade unions UCU, UNITE and UNISON. The announcement of proposed redundancies has been a major blow to workers at Magee and across Ulster University.
All the Stormont Executive parties in Council backed People Before Profit's April motion calling for UU management not to push ahead with redundancies. They also backed our call for the Economy Minister and Stormont Executive to urgently intervene to stop a jobs cull and to protect Magee expansion plans. We have met directly with the UU Vice Chancellor, will meet with the trade unions, but we have not yet had agreement from the Sinn Féin Economy Minister for a direct discussion with Council.
The gravity of the situation demands the Economy Minister and Stormont Executive outline its plan to protect jobs and the guaranteed long-awaited Magee expansion. UU bosses and the Economy Minister need to listen to trade union proposals. I will be backing the trade union demand for UU to pause all redundancies and for a clear commitment that there will be no compulsory redundancies.
People Before Profit also back trade union demands for Westminster and Stormont to agree a new funding model for higher education that doesn't require tuition hikes amid a cost of living crisis, that protects and enhances jobs and that ensures Magee expansion is fully followed through on."