SIPTU members employed in the landmark City Hotel Derry have suspended planned protest action following agreement by the company to engage with their Union representatives at the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) at a meeting in Belfast scheduled for 16th July at 10.00am.
SIPTU Organiser, Niall McNally, said: “This is a welcome development and comes with assurances from the company that it will engage constructively as we work to prevent a number of threatened redundancies.
“Our members will be continuing with their ballot for industrial action, so we are prepared in the event of the upcoming talks not reaching a successful conclusion. However, a protest action that was being organised for next week has been suspended in order to create the best atmosphere for progress at the LRA talks.
“The situation at City Hotel Derry highlights a wider issue for workers in the hospitality industry throughout Northern Ireland. That is the push to undermine quality jobs in the sector through precarious contracts, pressure to fulfil duties faster and attempts to not recognise unions in the workplace. This not only adversely impacts workers but also the services provided to the public and visitors, which in turn damages the wider hospitality industry.”
He added: “It is only through organising into the Union that workers in this sector can protect their terms and conditions of employment into the future. We are committed to maintaining quality jobs in the hospitality industry which in turn provides the basis for a high quality sector that will continue to play an important role in the local economy.”