People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said,
“We have been contacted by E&I Engineering workers concerned at efforts to discourage trade union membership.
E&I workers have been classified as essential. They, along with every other essential worker, have the democratic right to trade union representation. Everyone needs to be protected during the pandemic – and trade unions provide a collective voice for workers in uncertain times. E&I Engineering should respect their workforce and end hostility to trade union representation.
The Derry and Strabane Council has called on all employers in the North West to respect workers rights through unobstructed access to trade union representation. Stormont’s New Decade, New Approach has made renewed commitments to respect for workers rights.
Harassment of workers for accepting a trade union leaflet or talking to a UNITE representative is unacceptable.
We encourage all workers at E&I and elsewhere to join the many others who’ve joined UNITE to seek protection and a collective voice. “