Union asks for a'realistic' approach

Whilst welcoming the achievement of the award, the union leaders are stating that the city’s gaining of the accolade should not be seen as a panacea for the remaining dire economic ills and unemployment levels in Londonderry.

Liam Gallagher, chairperson of the Unite union told the Sentinel: “Without being party poopers what we are saying is that this is distracting. We need to have a realistic look at the claims that are being made in relation to substantial numbers of jobs as a result of the award of the City of Culture.

“The claims being made by the Chamber of Commerce is that there is the potential for 3,000 jobs. Politicians also, including the Deputy First Minister, say there is potential for thousands of jobs. But, our affirmation on this that comparisons being made with Derry and other cities such as Liverpool and Glasgow, who received similar accolades are not based in reality. In terms of economy of scale, there is no comparison,” he said.

Londonderry has 107,000 people whilst Liverpool example has a population of just under half a million.

Mr Gallagher continued: “In the current economic climate you would be really going to get sufficient private investment to get 3,000 jobs on the back of this. So, we would challenge politicians about exactly what thought they have put into this in terms of jobs. Where will they be?”

The union man predicted that there will be an increase in employment within the arts and cultural sectors but queried whether any positions created would provide long term and sustainable employment.

“There will definitely be an increase in culture and arts, a definite boon and a benefit for tourism, perhaps an increase of ten per cent for a period, the spin-off for the local service industry base businesses, and the more the better. We also congratulate the team who produced the bid including Valerie Watt of Derry City Council, ILEX and anybody involved in culture and arts. We are not begrudging this because we think that it is a excellent accolade for the city and we hope that lots of things develop out of it.

“Our problem is this. All of this is going to fall in 2013 against a backdrop of, in our opinion, severe cuts in the public sector in the 2011-2014 spending cycle, which has the potential to create 2,500 to 3,000 job losses, if these cuts are passed and implemented by the Assembly.

“It’s a bit like trying to fill the bath with water with the plug out. There has to be a realistic strategy,” said Liam Gallagher.

Union chiefs also warned that concentration on culture, arts and the service industry in Londonderry should not detract from the devastation of the North West’s manufacturing base in recent years.

Gareth Scott, Regional Industry Organiser for Unite told the Sentinel: “We have to hold accountable the leaders of the city to the objective of trying to get inward investment and sustainable, well paid and ling term jobs.

“We are confident that if this is handled right that it will have benefits for those sectors that it relates to and there will be the creation of short-term jobs.

“But, we can’t forget that for any economy to be successful there has to be a mixed economy and that includes a manufacturing base which has been decimated in this city. That has to be addressed and not overlooked merely because of the euphoria that we are going to have the UK City of Culture for one year in 2013.”