In absence of improved pay offer, bus and rail workers will take a three-day strike action at the end of the month
Public transport workers in Northern Ireland have deferred strike action to give political leaders at Stormont space to make an improved pay offer. Despite the re-establishment of power-sharing institutions, as yet the public transport unions (SIPTU, Unite and GMB) have received no offer of negotiations from Translink or indeed any offer of a pay increase.
Given the potential for incoming Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd to move quickly and offer workers a pay increase, it was unanimously agreed by all three unions to reschedule the date of the next, planned strike action which was provisionally set for February 15 – until the end of the month.
In the absence of a realistic offer the next scheduled strike action by bus and rail workers will be for a 72-hour period commencing on a staggered basis after midnight on 27 February and ending after midnight 29 February. Strike action would result in all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland being brought to a standstill.
SIPTU Regional Organiser Niall McNally added, “While we all welcome the restoration of the power-sharing institutions in Stormont, they need to deliver for workers and society. Infrastructure minister John O’Dowd must move quickly to address the underfunding of public transport in Northern Ireland and ensure adequate funding for this vital public service – and to allow public transport workers to receive a cost of living pay increase. Our members have taken six days strike action and they are determined that they will get what they deserve.”