'BT job losses devastating for Derry' - Colum Eastwood

Up to 150 BT workers at the organisation's city centre building are facing redundancy.

The jobs are expected to be lost in September.

The BT workers were informed of the redundancies on a call on Wednesday morning.

Ninety job losses on one floor alone have been announced.

Council expresses concern at BT job losses in Derry

Elected Members agreed to seek an urgent meeting with BT’s Corporate Management to discuss the decision and the impact it will have on the local economy

The BT jobs currently located in its Derry office will be relocated to India and Belfast.

A BT Group spokesperson said the company is going through an “ambitious modernisation programme and consolidating buildings within its estate”.

The spokesperson said: “BT is going through an ambitious modernisation programme and consolidating buildings within its estate from more than 300 to closer to 30, modern workspaces.

“We are considering closing our office in Derry and we are consulting with colleagues and their unions on our proposals.

“Where appropriate, people will be given the opportunity to relocate to other roles at our Riverside Tower office in Belfast, which benefited from a multi-million pound refurbishment in 2023 and which is home to around 2,000 people.

“Benefiting from a state-of-the-art workplace, there are also greater career opportunities within a larger location for colleagues. There’s no impact to customers from these proposals.”

“BT Group remains committed to Northern Ireland, building full fibre broadband further and faster than anyone else. We’ve already reached nearly 90 per cent of homes and businesses with Openreach’s full fibre broadband network, and with extensive 5G and 4G mobile coverage from EE, Northern Ireland is the most digitally connected region in the UK.”
'real blow'

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said that the proposed loss of around 140 jobs at BT in Derry is devastating for the city.

The former SDLP leader said: “This is devastating news for BT workers, their families and the broader local economy in Derry. At a time when we need to be investing more in jobs and opportunities in our city, the proposed loss of these jobs will have a serious impact.

“I am in touch with senior leaders at BT about these plans and am relaying the outrage in Derry that staff and the whole community will be feeling.

“Relocating these roles to India and Belfast is a mistake, it makes regional economic imbalances worse and it’s a direct transfer of opportunity from our city to other places that do not need it.

“I will be raising this mater directly with Ministers in London and Belfast. Both have indicated their commitment to addressing the opportunity gap and it’s time that they put their money where their mouth is.”

SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA said: “The announcement of BT’s Derry office closure is a real blow for our city and the workers who have built their lives there. My thoughts are with those now facing deep uncertainty, and urgent action is needed to ensure they receive full support and financial assistance.

“This move is part of a wider pattern of centralising jobs in Belfast while communities like Derry are left behind. This is a result of political choices that have failed our region for too long.

“We need a joined-up strategy for regional economic growth that delivers good jobs and fair investment across all of Northern Ireland, not just within the Belfast commuter belt.”

Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy has described the proposed closure of BT's office in Derry as ‘hugely concerning’ for the local community.

Mr Delargy said he is requesting a meeting with BT Group to discuss the plans and ensure the company is doing all it can to support the workers impacted.

“It’s extremely concerning that BT is planning to move jobs out of Derry to Belfast and overseas,” the Foyle MLA said. "I want to extend my full solidarity to the workers affected by this decision.

“At a time when the north west is growing as an exciting place to live, work and study in, BT’s announcement flies in the face of the economic consensus which is to create regional balance.

“Most importantly, it is a hugely concerning announcement for workers and their families.”
Aontú representative, Emmet Doyle said: "This is a huge blow to the workers, their families and this City.

"These workers have given in many cases, decades of their lives to BT, and we must use every lever available to protect these jobs in Derry and ensure they stay here in perpetuity.”