TSSA Demands Ministerial Meeting In Fight For Translink Jobs

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has written to the Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, over plans by Translink to cut over 50 jobs as part of a drive to reduce costs by up to £20m. 

Cortes is demanding a meeting with the Minister to avert jobs losses, calling the plans a ‘grave mistake’ and ‘reckless’ in the midst of the Covid pandemic.  

The full text of the letter is as follows:  

Dear Nichola 

TRANSLINK JOB LOSSES 

I write with regard to the recent announcement (15th September) by Translink of a planned £20m in cuts leading to job losses and the closure of Translink’s Travel Centres and reduction in management posts. 

Our union sees this as a grave mistake in the midst of a global health and economic crisis. 

Now is definitely not the time for any government to be cutting jobs and to do so at this time, when transport workers have bravely kept our country moving during this crisis, is nothing less than callous and short-sighted. 

The people of Northern Ireland rightly expect first class public transport both now and once we move out of the shadow of this terrible virus. They will not thank their Government for rubber-stamping savage cuts when they know that public transport badly needs proper funding. 

Make no mistake, our union will fight for every single job at this publicly owned company. I am therefore seeking an urgent meeting with you over Translink’s reckless plans in the hope that we can find an alternative way forward for our members and the people of Northern Ireland. 

Yours sincerely 

Manuel Cortes 

General Secretary