Joint Trade Union statement

Strike action by members of UNITE, GMB and SIPTU will mean no bus or rail services on Friday or Saturday

Blame for disruption rests wholly with secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris who is punishing workers in political stalemate

Public transport workers employed by Translink will commence fresh strike action in pursuit of a pay increase tomorrow. The strike will commence at staggered times in the morning of Friday 15 December and last for 48 hours ending on Sunday 17 December. The industrial action follows a previous one-day strike by bus and rail workers held on Friday 1 December.

Members of all three trade unions on Ulsterbus, Metro bus and Glider will strike and those of GMB and SIPTU on Northern Ireland Rail. The industrial action follows ballots across all three unions with yes votes in the high 90s for strike action in the face of a pay freeze instigated by the secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris, which amounts to a real-terms pay cut of 11.4 per cent when RPI inflation is factored in. 

Due to the involvement of all three frontline unions, all bus and rail services across Northern Ireland will be halted. 

Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The failure of the secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris to intervene and provide any pay increase has left Translink workers no alternative but to escalate industrial action. 

“All too often Translink workers are on the frontline of social disorder or unrest now in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, they are being told to accept an 11 per cent real-terms pay cut. That is completely unacceptable. They continue to have the full support of Unite in their fight.”

GMB regional organiser for Translink Peter Macklin said: “At the beginning of the month, Chris Heaton-Harris was denying he had any powers to deliver a pay increase to workers; then earlier this week he tabled a completely inadequate financial package which he claimed would be enough for a public sector pay increase. While that has been universally rejected – his actions show that he has had the power all along to intervene and address our members’ pay claim.

“The reality is that Mr Heaton-Harris is now openly seeking to weaponise the suffering of public sector workers and the general public to blackmail the parties to do a deal. That is completely disgraceful behaviour. Our members are not pawns in a game of chess. They cannot be denied a cost of living increase because of a political stalemate. They deserve and need a pay increase. Responsibility for this strike lies wholly with the secretary of state.”

SIPTU Regional organiser Niall McNally said: “The impact of the industrial action by public transport workers was the driving force for this week’s political developments and confirms the strength of workers when we stand together. The secretary of state has shown he can move so let’s see him provide the funding needed for Translink to both improve our public transport services and deliver a cost of living increase for workers. 

“We are calling on civil society to get behind the public transport workers. This strike is the cutting edge of the fight for proper funding for all public services in Northern Ireland; funding that will provide decent pay for all public sector workers and end the staffing crisis. The clock is ticking for Mr Heaton-Harris – he needs to move and address our members’ pay concerns before we further escalate strike action in the new year.”