News

Union officials working to avoid leisure centre job losses

BELFAST city council is working with union officials to avoid compulsory redundancies at the Robinson leisure centre, a council spokesman said.

Unions met council officials yesterday morning over fears that a legal dispute over the centre could lead to job losses.

The centre is closed after asbestos was found during a survey in February.

It had reopened but has now been indefinitely closed following a legal wrangle.

Belfast City Council failed in its High Court legal bid on Tuesday to stop the centre from being transferred into its control as part of the shake-up of local government.

The matter will now be dealt with through a full judicial review.

Liabilities before April 1 will sit with the new Lisburn Castlereagh Council for the time being.

Responsibility for the 38 staff who worked there has also transferred to Belfast City Council.

Following yesterday's meeting, union representatives said they had been assured there would be no compulsory redundancies.

Unite's regional officer Davy Edmont said: "All members of staff that were employed directly by Castlereagh council are receiving full jobs and full employment within Belfast City Council."

A statement from Belfast City Council said: "Staff were assured that BCC and the trade unions are actively working together to do everything in their power to avoid compulsory redundancies and explore every avenue to find suitable work.

"The affected staff will remain will be paid from today by Belfast City Council and there will be a series of individual meetings with each of them after the Easter break to look at all opportunities."

In February, a survey carried out at the Robinson centre found that there was asbestos.

Meanwhile, its understood Belfast City Council is planning to build a new leisure centre on the site.

At a council meeting last night it was revealed that £19m has been set aside for the project, which is not thought to have received the approval of the full council.