Public Transport - Unions to strike over four days in February

Public transport will once again be affected locally, following news that the three public transport trade unions, Unite, GMB and SIPTU are planning four days of strike action in February, with the first being next Thursday 1 February.

Bus and rail workers are 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 “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.”

GMB, regional organiser Peter Macklin said: “Chris Heaton-Harris’ behaviour to date to workers, our public services and indeed the public has been nothing short of disgraceful. His attempts to weaponise the funding of public services and pay have backfired leaving him increasingly isolated.

“He is solely responsible for the current wave of strike action – he must release the funds which he is withholding from workers and public services.”

SIPTU regional organiser Niall McNally said “Workplace reps have unanimously agreed an escalated schedule of industrial action including four further days of strikes in February. The three unions are also seeking to coordinate our action with that of the wider trade union movement to keep the maximum pressure on Chris Heaton-Harris so that we can win for workers and our public services.”

Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has expressed his solidarity with the strikers. Speaking of last weeks industrial action McNulty  said "Outside Hospitals, Schools, Colleges, Bus Stations and Depots, workers stood together resolutely and determined to ensure their message will be heard loud and clear by both the DUP and the Secretary of State who dangled this pay rise in front of them before Christmas, only to leave staff standing in the cold. 

“The strike action has highlighted just how reliant we are on our public sector workers and that can’t be lost on Chris Heaton-Harris and Jeffrey Donaldson. The DUP cannot be let off the hook for their role in denying staff fair pay and proper conditions, and if they do continue to boycott Stormont, the British government must step in and do the right thing for hard working staff and their families who have been left struggling and earning far less than their counterparts across these islands. The only sea border we should be worried about is the pay border in the Irish Sea.”