A further three strike dates in February are planned in campaign to secure a cost-of-living pay increase
More than 3,000 workers at Translink were on a 24-hour stoppage today in the cost of living pay dispute. Members of the transport unions, including SIPTU, brought all bus and rail services across Northern Ireland to a standstill.
The strikes are a result of Translink failing to make any form of a pay offer to its workers. Funding for public transport services has been constrained with no money for a cost of living pay increase being made available as a result of the punitive budget imposed by secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris.
Despite recent political developments, no improved pay offer has been made to the public transport unions. There is no clarity on the timing of such an offer or even a timeframe for negotiations.
SIPTU Regional Organiser, Niall McNally said: “In the aftermath of the 18 January one day public sector strike, secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris said he would move to address the pressures on the public sector finances but as yet that has not translated into any offer for workers.
“We are hearing a lot of promises but so far we have no pay offer or even a timeline for a pay offer. Without that the unions will proceed with our agreed plans for further and escalated strike action in this dispute.”