The hardware giant Seagate Technology has turned down a meeting with Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) over potential job cuts, it has emerged.
In October, the biggest maker of computer hard drives said it plans to cut 8% of its global workforce, leaving workers in the city fearing they could soon be affected.
It's expected that the US-based company will cut around 3,000 jobs in total - citing economic uncertainty and declining demand for its parts.
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Seagate CEO Dave Mosley said the latest move would help the company save £95million. He said: “In addition to adjusting our production output, to drive supply discipline and pricing stability, we are implementing a restructuring plan to sustainably lower costs, including a reduction in our global workforce."
However, in a recent full meeting of DCSDC, Mayor Sandra Duffy said that despite efforts to meet with the tech giant, company management "didn't feel there was a need for a meeting at this stage".
Mayor Duffy's response came after Sinn Fein councillor Christopher Jackson asked for an update on the matter. It's understood a meeting was scheduled to take place on Friday, December 16.
People Before Profit's Cllr Shaun Harkin, who initially brought a motion before the council in October, said it was "very disappointing" that the company had taken this decision.
"It's been very confusing," Cllr Harkin said. "They agreed to meet, then they cancelled the meeting and now they are saying that they don't think it's necessary to meet with the council.
"I think that the issues that Seagate workers have been raising are very serious issues [and] they deserve the council's attention and I'm glad our council has taken such a proactive position.
"I assume that [the Mayor's] letter will express our disappointment and hope that they rethink this. In my opinion, I don't think it looks very good that a company of Seagate's standing are refusing a meeting with the council."
Meanwhile, SDLP Cllr Brian Tierney added: "It looks as if [Seagate] management is trying to hide and not address these issues.
"We, as a council, should not be allowing them to hide. We need to make sure that we get an opportunity to raise [workers] concerns.
"Seagate might not believe it needs a meeting with the council, but the council feels it needs a meeting with Seagate. We have a job to do on behalf of the workers in there."
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