People Before Profit representative Shaun Harkin says Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, has ‘snubbed’ Derry City and Strabane District Council regarding Magee expansion and Ulster University (UU) redundancies.

At September’s full council meeting members confirmed the minutes of two recent deputations around the 450 planned redundancies across three UU campuses; one from trade union representatives and another from UU Vice-Chancellor, Paul Bartholomew.

During the meeting, councillor Harkin expressed disappointment that since the deputation from Mr Barthholomew the redundancy plans are still moving forward, while calls from council to reintroduce a 50 pence top-up for low wage staff have been ignored.

He also noted that when council initially proposed inviting both parties to the Guildhall, an invite was also extended to Ms Archibald to ‘directly intervene to protect the jobs and Magee expansion’.

“We've asked numerous times for a meeting with the Economy Minister and it's regretful that [she] has turned down the opportunity to engage directly with the council,” Councillor Harkin added.

“I did see that the Minister was at the Freshers’ Fayre yesterday (September 22) at Magee.

“I don't see why there isn't time in the schedule to come in and meet with representatives in some form to talk about the issues at hand, because we have agreed a motion that calls on the Economy Minister to protect jobs and Magee expansion.

“There are clear worries about the direction of travel, so I just want to express my disappointment that the Minister has snubbed the opportunity to meet with council."