Government Workers To Strike

Local government workers across Northern Ireland are planning a two-day strike this week starting on Wednesday over pay.

The Unite union has called on assembly members and councillors to join the picket lines and support striking workers in England and Wales.

In addition to a disruption of council services the Housing Executive and education and library boards will be affected.

Albert Mills, senior industrial organiser with public service union Unite, has said dispensation has been given to allow burials and cover for emergency services.

The union members have rejected offers of a pay rise of 2.45% and are demanding a 6% or 50p an hour increase (whichever is the greater).

Trevor Salmon, director of corporate services with Belfast City Council, said: "There will be disruption of our leisure centre and our community centres - we think 50% of those will be disrupted or closed.

"The biggest disruption of course is going to be the bin collections - we calculate that some 54,000 households will be affected."

Mr Mills said: "Unite have a strong and consistent position on this pay deal which we believe is not in the interests of our members."

"The Northern Ireland Assembly have a responsibility to properly fund local government to ensure a decent wage for its workers and their families - this pay deal clearly does not do this and should be a source of shame and embarrassment to the Assembly and local authorities."

He added: "The question for our members is this: Are we going to continue to accept below inflation deals which impact more heavily on lower paid workers or do we make a stand for a living wage?"

Striking members of Unite plan a rally outside Transport House in Belfast at noon on Wednesday.

(GK/JM)