Causeway Coast and Glens: Unions protest over CCTV in offices

Trade union members have protested outside Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council offices against the installation of CCTV cameras.

Nipsa, GMB and Unite said cameras were installed in some offices and staff are concerned over a lack of consultation.

Nipsa said the union was told the cameras were in recording mode.

The council said the additional CCTV devices were being installed "to enhance security and to ensure staff feel safe in the workplace".

It added that this had been done "as part on an ongoing review and upgrade of facility security", a spokesman said.

"This matter will not be progressed any further until after consideration of governance processes and staff consultation," he added.

Lorraine Hartin from public sevice trade union Nipsa says staff are worried

Lorraine Hartin from Nipsa said: "We had been given assurances that these cameras wouldn't be recording but we are told now they have been since they were put up.

"This is infringing on workers' privacy as the cameras are in areas you wouldn't usually expect them."

She said staff were appalled and morale was low because of this.

"Who is controlling this data? Who has access to it? Serious questions need answered here. This also comes at a big cost," Ms Hartin said.

"We believe all sorts of codes of practice and rules are being broken here."