Bin workers based at Armagh depot suspend strikes but union members stand ready to defend reps

ABC council senior management have presided over a ‘hostile environment’ for union reps and their behaviour is ‘shameful’

Unite members employed in waste collection at the Armagh depot have voted to suspend a seven-week strike taken in response to the sacking of their union rep.

Unite has vowed to continue to pursue justice for its sacked shop steward through all available avenues, including at employment tribunal where the council will have to justify its decision.

The strike action will be suspended from midnight [Thursday] tonight with employees returning to work tomorrow.

In a meeting notifying management of the decision to suspend, union officials demanded the council conduct an audit into its industrial practices, which they have agreed. 

The union has described the behaviour of senior council management at Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon (ABC) council towards its team of workforce reps as ‘shameful’ and warned that any further aggression towards its reps or to the jobs, pay, terms and conditions of its members will be completely opposed by workers.

Unite regional secretary of Unite, Susan Fitzgerald said, “The workers who took strike action for seven weeks are to be congratulated for their solidarity with their rep and their union. Their integrity contrasts sharply with the behaviour of council bosses. Our members took a stand in defence of hard won union rights for all workers. Management needs to understand that an attack on any of our workforce reps is an attack on our union.

“Unite will now escalate our dispute through legal avenues; those who sacked our rep and then doubled down on that must be held to account.”

Unite the union is seeking to meet with local councillors to demand action on the hostile environment members are experiencing at ABC council.

Unite regional officer Brenda Stevenson said: “Our members return to work with their heads held high. The responsibility for this strike lies squarely with senior council management who have presided over a hostile environment for union reps.

“We want to thank the local community who overwhelmingly supported the bin workers and their fight to defend their union despite the impact this strike had on bin collections.

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interview contact Donal O’Cofaigh, Unite Campaigns, Communications & Press (NI), tel. 07810 157926.