Huge surge in Northern Ireland potholes reflects more than a decade of underinvestment

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Unite the union NI
Roads Service workers on the picket line

Roads Service suffering acute staffing crisis as low-pay undermines recruitment and retention

Unite the UK’s leading union has blamed a huge increase in potholes in Northern Ireland on chronic under investment in the Roads Service.

Statistics unveiled today have revealed that potholes reported by members of the public have increased year on year over the last eight years. Rising from 3,206 reported in 2015 to 25,067 in 2023 – an increase of 780 per cent over the period. 

Unite the union members working in the Roads Service are currently in dispute in pursuit of a pay increase. Roads service workers took a week of strike action over pay last week. Employers’ imposed a pay increase worth between 1.65 and 2.3 per cent in 2022-2023 and are still to commence negotiations for the 2023-2024 financial year. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “A huge increase in the number of potholes exposes the extent and impact of the long-term underfunding of roads maintenance,. Roads workers have been left with no alternative but to take industrial action due to chronic low rates of pay.”

“Underinvestment is putting people at risk and subjecting Unite members to pay poverty. There must be no further delay in proper investment in Northern Ireland’s roads service.”

Regional officer Gareth Scott said. “The staffing crisis which has resulted from low pay, leaves fewer workers to maintain roads which are being exposed to more extreme weather events and heavier and heavier vehicles. The current situation is entirely unsustainable.”

Posted in Campaign for Decent Pay, Industrial disputes, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases, Public Services | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Supreme Court lifts injunction preventing industrial action

Posted on January 28, 2024 by unitetheunion

Decision removes obstacle to mechanical workers’ strike action

Unite leader: “We will leave no stone unturned to vindicate the right to take action”

January 28th: The Supreme Court has agreed to lift an interim High Court injunction obtained by HA O’Neil, part of the Jones Engineering Group, last March preventing Unite members continuing industrial action in pursuit of their claim for restoration of travel time. Unite had appealed last year’s High Court decision to the Supreme Court.  While the full judgement will not be available for some time, the union said that the decision last Wednesday to lift the injunction is good news not just for Unite members but for the wider trade union movement.  Unite also pointed out that the decision removes an obstacle to members in the mechanical sector taking strike action.

Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Once again, Unite has demonstrated that we will leave no stone unturned to vindicate our members’ fundamental right to take action to defend their jobs, pay and conditions.”

Continue reading →
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mid Ulster District Council Leisure workers to continue all-out strike for improved coaching payments

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Strike by leisure workers continues at both Cookstown and Greenvale Leisure Centres

Approximately 30 members of Unite the union employed at both Cookstown Leisure Centre and Greenvale Leisure Centre are taking strike action in demand of improved payments for coaching duties. The all-out (indefinite) strike commenced on Monday [22 January] and in the absence of movement by council management is set to continue into a second week.

The industrial action follows a ballot of the workers which returned an 80 per cent mandate for strike action. The workers are seeking improved payments for coaching duties which are outside their standard contract of employment.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “The leisure workers at Mid Ulster council fully deserve decent pay that reflects the additional duties they undertake. They can count on the full support of Unite for their campaign to win respect and improved pay.”

The action is having a substantial impact on leisure services at both locations.

Regional officer Gareth Scott said, “Leisure staff must be paid fairly for undertaking coaching. The amounts involved may appear small to senior management at the council but they make a vital contribution to the pay packets of leisure workers who are among the lowest paid in the council.”

“Unite is calling on the councillors to directly intervene and end this dispute. The refusal of council bosses to do so has created this dispute and the ongoing disruption to the general public.”

Posted in Campaign for Decent Pay, Industrial disputes, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases, Public Services | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Public transport unions to escalate strike action next month

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Joint transport unions press release

The three public transport trade unions, Unite, GMB and SIPTU, will today (Monday 22 January) notify Translink of further planned strike action on Thursday (1 February). This is the first of a likely four further days of strike action to be taken in February.

The notification marks a further escalation in the industrial action of bus and rail workers demanding secretary of state for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris release funding for public transport services and allow a cost of living pay increase. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Last week’s strike action in Northern Ireland represented an historic mobilisation of workers demanding Chris Heaton-Harris release funds to provide a pay increase for public service workers.

“In the absence of any movement on pay, public transport workers have been left with no alternative but to escalate their strike action with further strikes. They can be assured of the continued support of Unite in that fight.”

Continue reading →
Posted in Campaign for Decent Pay, Industrial disputes, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases, Public Services | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Public transport unions to meet tomorrow to agree next steps in their industrial campaign

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Strike action by roads service and education authority workers to continue in absence of movement from secretary of state

Workers have been left with no alternative but to extend and deepen their industrial action to defend public services and win a cost of living pay increase

Following today’s historic, one-day public sector strike in Northern Ireland, Unite has confirmed that industrial action by its members will continue in the absence of any move by the secretary of state for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris to release the funds necessary to provide a cost of living pay increase. 

Today’s strike action by public transport workers brought to a standstill all bus and rail services operated by Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport provider. Representatives of the three public transport unions participating in the action, Unite, GMB and SIPTU, will meet tomorrow (19 January) to agree the next steps in their industrial campaign. Public transport workers have been offered no pay increase whatsoever, after a punitive budget was imposed by the secretary of state on Translink’s funder, the department for infrastructure. 

Unite members working for the roads service and the forestry service will continue their strike action for a further six days during which time the union’s wider membership in the civil service will refuse to volunteer to provide winter maintenance cover (gritting) as part of their industrial action. Members of Unite working in the education authority are set to take a further six days of strike action over the next three weeks. 

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said. “Today’s strike action represented a milestone in the fightback in defence of public services. Chris Heaton-Harris needs to recognise the determination of workers to secure a fair pay increase. 

“Unite is full square behind the fight of public sector workers in Northern Ireland for fair pay and respect.”

Continue reading →
Posted in Campaign for Decent Pay, Industrial disputes, Living Wage, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases, Public Services | Tagged , | Leave a comment