North transport staff to launch strike action

A THREE-DAY strike by transport workers in the North is due to go ahead next week.

Thousands of Translink workers on bus and rail services are expected to walk out for 72 hours from Tuesday, February 27 after unions rejected an ‘inadequate pay offer’.

Officials from trade unions GMB, Unite and Siptu held meetings with Translink on Thursday.

A statement from the unions yesterday said they ‘stand ready to enter further dialogue with the company if they wish to avoid the action by improving’ on offer made.

‘The 72-hour strike action commencing on a staggered basis from midnight on Tuesday, February 27, remains in place. Unions are fully prepared to return to negotiations provided Translink is prepared to make a substantially improved offer,’ the statement added.

The three-day strike is the latest in a series taken by Translink workers over pay and conditions, but will be the longest continual action as part of the current dispute.

Train and bus drivers joined a number of days of strike action before Christmas, bringing public transport services to a halt across the North.

Translink workers also took part in one of the largest strikes in the North’s history last month, involving workers from multiple public sectors.

Last week, Stormont ministers agreed to release £688million (€806million) for outstanding pay awards to public-sector workers in the North. Individual departments have each been given an allocation to negotiate with trade unions on the pay rises that will be introduced.

However, unrest among unions seeking pay parity with the rest of the UK has continued.

This week, the North’s junior doctors voted for strike action over pay next month, and education unions warned of further industrial action in their sector as a row over the pay and grading of school support staff in the region continues.