Menu
27/06/2014
Union Confirms Council Strike Action
The union GMB has confirmed its council and school workers are to go on strike next month.
The industrial action was voted in by three to one and has resulted in a one-day strike on 10 July.
In a statement, GMB said it is in a dispute over pay.
The strike will involve staff in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
Members of the union Unison have already voted to stage industrial action over pay on the same day. It means that more than a million public sector workers could walkout next month.
Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary, said: "Our members have spoken loud and clear and said they want to go on strike.
"We have tried sensible discussions, we've sought to negotiate reasonably, we've said we are willing to accept ACAS arbitration rather than go on strike – but to everything we've tried the employers have said 'no'. So we have no choice."
He continued: "GMB members serving school meals, cleaning streets, emptying bins, looking after the elderly, helping children in classrooms and in all the other vital roles serving our communities are fed up with being ignored and undervalued.
"Their pay has gone up only 1% since 2010 and in October even the national minimum wage will overtake local authority pay scales. Their case is reasonable, the employers won't listen and don't care, no wonder they have turned to strike action as the only way of making their voices heard.
"With other unions involved too, the 10 July looks like being the second biggest dispute ever with up to 2 million workers on strike."
(JP/MH)
The industrial action was voted in by three to one and has resulted in a one-day strike on 10 July.
In a statement, GMB said it is in a dispute over pay.
The strike will involve staff in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
Members of the union Unison have already voted to stage industrial action over pay on the same day. It means that more than a million public sector workers could walkout next month.
Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary, said: "Our members have spoken loud and clear and said they want to go on strike.
"We have tried sensible discussions, we've sought to negotiate reasonably, we've said we are willing to accept ACAS arbitration rather than go on strike – but to everything we've tried the employers have said 'no'. So we have no choice."
He continued: "GMB members serving school meals, cleaning streets, emptying bins, looking after the elderly, helping children in classrooms and in all the other vital roles serving our communities are fed up with being ignored and undervalued.
"Their pay has gone up only 1% since 2010 and in October even the national minimum wage will overtake local authority pay scales. Their case is reasonable, the employers won't listen and don't care, no wonder they have turned to strike action as the only way of making their voices heard.
"With other unions involved too, the 10 July looks like being the second biggest dispute ever with up to 2 million workers on strike."
(JP/MH)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
06 January 2023
Further Strike Dates Announced For Rathlin Island Ferry Workers
Unite the union has called on the Department for Infrastructure to intervene and ensure workers on the ferry service between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island receive a cost of living pay increase and avoid further disruption to residents and economy of Northern Ireland's largest island.
Further Strike Dates Announced For Rathlin Island Ferry Workers
Unite the union has called on the Department for Infrastructure to intervene and ensure workers on the ferry service between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island receive a cost of living pay increase and avoid further disruption to residents and economy of Northern Ireland's largest island.
31 January 2023
Firefighters Vote In Favour Of Strike Action
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Interim Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Andy Hearn, has said that he supports a pay increase for Firefighters an their right to participate in peaceful strike action.
Firefighters Vote In Favour Of Strike Action
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Interim Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Andy Hearn, has said that he supports a pay increase for Firefighters an their right to participate in peaceful strike action.
30 November 2023
Austerity Budget Blamed For Bus And Rail Strike
An austerity budget imposed by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, has been blamed for the first bus and rail strike in Northern Ireland since 2015. Translink NI workers with Unite, GMB and SIPTU will begin a 24-hour, network wide, strike from midnight tonight, in a pay dispute.
Austerity Budget Blamed For Bus And Rail Strike
An austerity budget imposed by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, has been blamed for the first bus and rail strike in Northern Ireland since 2015. Translink NI workers with Unite, GMB and SIPTU will begin a 24-hour, network wide, strike from midnight tonight, in a pay dispute.
21 April 2022
Translink Strike Action Deferred Following New Pay Offer
The upcoming Translink strike action has been deferred following the proposal of a new pay offer.
Translink Strike Action Deferred Following New Pay Offer
The upcoming Translink strike action has been deferred following the proposal of a new pay offer.
22 April 2015
NI Health Workers To Take Further Strike Action
Health workers in Northern Ireland are to take further strike action over pay. The Society of Radiographers is to hold a four hour strike on 30 April in line with the action to be taken by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) announced on 20 April.
NI Health Workers To Take Further Strike Action
Health workers in Northern Ireland are to take further strike action over pay. The Society of Radiographers is to hold a four hour strike on 30 April in line with the action to be taken by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) announced on 20 April.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
