Public sector pay: Unite to ballot members on strike action

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Unite the union NI

Union warns industrial action inevitable unless meaningful pay offer tabled

Trade union Unite, which organises workers in a wide range of public sector employments, said today that a meeting of the union’s public sector shop stewards has decided to launch a ballot for industrial action across the public sector. The decision follows the government’s failure to table what the union termed a ‘meaningful offer on pay’ following expiry of the 2024-2026 Public Service Agreement. The ballot is also protective in nature and is intended to ensure that members are in a position to respond should further negotiations fail to produce an acceptable outcome as well protecting existing conditions.

Unite is a member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Public Services Committee, which last week advised that they do not believe there is a viable basis for opening formal negotiations in the absence of the Government setting out a sufficiently credible approach to public sector workers’ pay and living standards at the outset. Continue reading →

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Stormont must legislate on upper working temperature limits

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Unite the union NI

Workers need protection from excessive heat, in particular those involved in strenuous activity

Responding to the current heatwave, Unite has called on the Stormont executive to introduce upper working temperature limits as a matter of urgency.

The demand is included in Unite’s ‘Workers in the eye of the storm’ campaign for improved health and safety protections for workers during extreme weather. The union points to yesterday’s record June temperature as evidence that the issue is now pressing.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Workers are bearing the brunt of the extreme temperatures. We need immediate action to protect workers from excessive heat.” Continue reading →

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Haldane Fisher strikes causing construction sector disruption across Ireland

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Unite the union NI

Susan Fitzgerald addresses strikers at Haldane-Fisher

Approximately 40 members of Unite have entered the eighth day of strike action at Haldane-Fisher in Newry. The strike is a result of the workers rejecting a below-inflation, 2.5 per cent pay increase imposed by management.

Haldane-Fisher has its own network of shops but its Newry supply store is central to its supply trade to builders’ merchants across the Republic of Ireland. The strike has severely impacted deliveries and raises the prospect of significant disruption to the construction sector – coming at a time when contractors traditionally seek to finish work before the holiday period.

Haldane-Fisher group’s latest accounts [year to end 2024] show after-tax profits of £1.9 million and a dividend paid to the company’s shareholders of £3.5 million. In the four years of published accounts since 2021 the pay of the highest paid director increased 27 per cent to £154k while average (inflation adjusted) pay for workers fell by four per cent in real terms.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Haldane-Fisher is a highly successful business, but its low paid workforce has seen their pay packets fall further and further behind. Meanwhile, management has ensured their pay outstripped inflation and paid dividends to shareholders that dwarfed the company’s profits.

“The workers at Haldane-Fisher have the full support of Unite for as long as it takes to secure pay justice and respect.” Continue reading →

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First one day strike set to shutdown Balcas sawmill

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Unite the union NI

Low-paid workforce at highly profitable Enniskillen sawmill vote overwhelmingly to reject insulting pay offer

Unite members at Enniskillen-based sawmill Balcas are to commence the first of three 24-hour strike actions on Thursday (June 18). In the absence of an improved offer from management, the strike will be followed by two further one-day strike on June 25 and July 2 when the workforce is prepared to escalate the action further. The industrial action is a result of the workers rejecting the three per cent pay increase offered by management.

The strike will shut down all production of timber at the site.

Balcas is owned by Longford-based Glennon Brothers – a highly successful timber company which recently acquired the Pontrilas group which operates wood processing sites in Wales. In the latest accounts submitted for Balcas in Northern Ireland [end 2024] show the company had pre-tax profits of £18.7 million on turnover of £130.8 million – a profit margin of almost 15 per cent.

Meanwhile workers at the Enniskillen plant are paid barely above the minimum wage with new entrants being paid at the minimum wage itself.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Balcas is a highly profitable sawmill owned by Glennon Brothers. They can easily afford to pay their workers properly. A paltry increase to workers paid barely above the legal minimum is an insult. The workforce has the full support of Unite in their struggle for respect and fair pay.” Continue reading →

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Unite condemns violence and demands all employers ensure workers’ safety

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Unite the union NI

All workers have a right to go to work without fear or harassment. 

Serious disorder in Northern Ireland last night saw rioters commandeer a glider bus, forcing the driver off before setting it alight. Public transport services have been suspended to protect drivers and transport workers. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite condemns the violence carried out across Northern Ireland last night including the racist targeting of workers and even family homes. Burning buses and terrorising workers and their families does nothing for the victim, whose family have asked that this attack not be used to divide people or fuel hostility.

“All workers have a right to go to work without fear or harassment. It is only good fortune that no one was killed.

“Workers’ safety must be the priority of every employer. One of our members was forced off a bus before it was set alight. And while Translink is now suspending services, this should have happened 24 hours ago.” Continue reading →

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