Housing crisis: Unite says wages are solution not problem

Posted on September 26, 2025 by unitetheunion

Good jobs key to attracting and retaining labour

Trade union Unite, which represents construction workers throughout Ireland, today said that sustained wage rises in the construction sector are critical to prevent a loss of vital construction skills as Ireland grapples with an ongoing housing crisis.

Unite was commenting on this week’s Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report highlighting recent wage increases and capacity constraints in the sector.

The figures cited by the ESRI are based on preliminary estimates for the last quarter.  According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), over the past number of years construction wage increases have been largely in line with wage increases in the economy as a whole.

The collectively agreed Construction Sectoral Employment Order saw workers covered by the agreement receive a 3.4% minimum pay increase effective from August 2025.

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First strike at Collins Aerospace, Kilkeel to proceed

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Unite members at Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel, County Down are to commence a first, one-day strike in a pay dispute tomorrow [Friday 26 September]. Workers at the site are seeking a cost-of-living pay increase.

The strike action will commence at 00.01 on Friday 26 September with pickets forming from 5 am in the morning.

Sharon Graham Unite general secretary said, “Collins Aerospace workers are highly skilled and deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do. As they commence they begin strike action they can count on the full support of Unite in their campaign to win fair pay.”

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No justification for lay-offs at Linamar given prospect of UK government support

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Urgent need for confirmation of financial support package for JLR supply-chain companies

Unite has challenged management at Linamar, Dunmurry on their proposals to lay-off 40 temporary, agency workers. The site is a supplier to Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR) and the lay-offs are a response to the protracted cyberattack-related shutdown of production at JLR plants across the UK. 

The union is engaged with government on a support package for JLR supply chain companies which will avoid job-losses, closures and the loss of vital manufacturing capacity during the shutdown.

General secretary Sharon Graham said, “Linamar workers cannot be expected to pay the price for this cyberattack.

“Given the expectation of UK government intervention to safeguard jobs and skills – there is no justification for any lay-offs at Linamar.”

Unite regional officer Norman Cunningham said: “Linamar workers and their families face an immediate threat of redundancy and a financial cliff-edge. Financial support for the JLR supply chain must be swiftly is delivered to avoid workers being forced onto benefits.”

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MABS workers secure nearly 13 per cent pay bump

Posted on September 23, 2025 by unitetheunion

9.25 per cent two-year deal follows 3.5 per cent increase secured in March

Two-year deal includes element backdated to October 2024

Trade union Unite, which represents workers throughout the community and voluntary sector, today said that members working for the Monetary Advice and Budgetary Service (MABS) have voted to accept a 9.25 per cent two-year pay deal. The deal, which includes a 2.5 per cent increase backdated to October 2024, will run until October 2026 and follows a 3.5 per cent increase secured in March of this year, bringing the total pay increase to 12.75 per cent.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This deal is another example of Unite winning for members.  For too long, MABS workers supported people in financial distress while themselves struggling to pay the bills.”

MABS workers have provided a community-based service for over three decades. The service has been funded by the Citizens’ Information Board since 2008, and the pay deal secured by Unite ensures equal treatment between MABS workers and others in the state-funded voluntary and community sector.

Unite regional officer Ed Thompson said:  This landmark pay deal recognises the vital service provided by our MABS members in local communities.”

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Response failures highlights need to end NI ambulance staffing crisis

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Paramedics are almost into third year of industrial action over unacceptable working conditions

Unite has released responses to a freedom of information (FoI) request on staffing shortfalls and the resulting failure to meet targets for ambulance response times.

The figures obtained show that in May there were 135 frontline vacancies in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). That number does not include the additional staff assessed as being required to deliver the health department’s clinical response model.

Unite has documented evidence confirming the shortfall needed to implement the clinical response model was 333 staff (composed of 124 paramedics, 196 emergency medical technicians and 13 ambulance care assistants).

The FoI also showed that in no month in the 2024-25 fiscal year were all frontline shifts filled. The percentage of shifts filled varied from 74 per cent to 86 per cent for double crewed ambulances (DCAs) and 55 per cent to 73 per cent for rapid response vehicles (RRVs).

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said, “These figures are extremely concerning. In no month was the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service able to fill all their shifts – the impact on response times is shocking. The health department must act now to end the working practices which are driving paramedics out of the NIAS and end the ongoing staffing crisis.”

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