Redundancies at Titanic Belfast all about ticking boxes, staff letter claims

AROUND 100 staff and former employees at Titanic Belfast have called on political parties for support as a row continues over working conditions and redundancies.

The group said it had secured 100 signatures for an open letter which alleges that a redundancy consultation process which resulted in 75 job losses among 300 workers was merely a “box-ticking exercise”.

The group has sent the letter to MLAS, MPS and the offices of the main parties here, calling for support in their disagreement with management.

In an interview with Belfast Telegraph last month, Titanic Belfast chief executive Judith Owens said she had to fight to save the venue during lockdown.

Revenues plunged overnight, with the centre also losing out on its lucrative events business, as well as tourists. The venue reopened on August 1.

Since its opening in 2012, it has drawn nearly six million visitors and become one of Northern Ireland’s top attractions.

The staff have called on politicians to support them because the venue has been supported by public money.

It received private and public investment via Tourism NI, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and the Titanic Quarter Limited.

Responding to the letter yesterday, Titanic Belfast said it “continues to be in a precarious trading position and, as is the case with other organisations across our industry, we have had to make difficult decisions over the past few months to try and save the business”.

It added: “Titanic Belfast carried out the recent restructure and consultation in line with Northern Ireland legislation but also with a high focus on communication and duty of care, as has been our operating ethos over the past eight years.

“As the restructure is an ongoing process, we cannot comment on it specifically. However, we are continuing to engage and support our teams through this difficult time.”

Titanic Belfast said the venue had reopened with a new business and staff model in place to reflect a fall in visitor demand due to a drop in visitors travelling from overseas.

“Since reopening, Titanic Belfast has welcomed visitors in line with its forecasts and has a staffing model in place to service this demand from domestic and national markets,” it added.

“It is still too early to predict how the business performance will fare as it moves into the lower season, coupled with the uncertainty around the pandemic and its impact on the tourism industry and economy as a whole.”