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Officials from Translink and Union representatives have met to discuss upcoming planned industrial action which could see Ulsterbus and Metrobus Services suspended for a week from later this month. Presently no resolution to the issue has been found.
Unite in conjunction with GMB who also represents bus workers at Translink are planning strike action from 25 April to 1 May and a single day on Friday May 6.
The strike comes after members of the union overwhelmingly voted for industrial action after rejecting the latest Translink management pay offer.
Speaking after the Translink meeting with officials from Unite the Union and GMB Bus Driver Trade Unions a Translink spokesperson said “We remain committed to working with the unions to avert this unprecedented industrial action that would disrupt essential public services for passengers, school children and communities right across Northern Ireland.
“As a priority, we asked the Unions to continue to provide public transport for school children, reflecting on the wellbeing of young people as we come out of the covid19 pandemic, particularly as we come close to exam season."
The spokesperson said the unions didn't give any commitment to providing public transport for school children during the proposed seven-day strike action and suggested that parents and carers should prepare to make alternative arrangements for children that normally travel on any Translink bus service to and from school.
They added “We also asked the unions to provide public transport for key tourism services during the proposed seven-day strike action, reflecting on the impact to the local economy, including cross border and local airport services, as well as the buses booked to support the international Belfast City Marathon event and services for visitors on those cruise ships due into Belfast Harbour. Regrettably, the unions at this point have also declined this request. Event organisers will need to make alternative arrangements if we cannot reach a resolution in the coming days."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has expressed her support for the striking bus workers: “These bus workers are frontline workers – they deserve respect and a pay increase. Translink needs to grasp that there’s a cost of living crisis destroying the value of wages and return with a more acceptable offer.
“Unite’s members have my full support and that of their union in taking this strike action for fairer pay.”
Unite deputy Regional Secretary Davy Thompson is lead officer for Translink, Northern Ireland’s bus and rail public transport provider. He added: “Unite represents the overwhelming majority of bus workers, and this strike action taken in conjunction with GMB which also represents bus workers will shut down all bus services.
“Bus workers deserve a pay increase. The ball is in the court of Translink management. They can to avoid this unnecessary and highly disruptive strike – they need to address our members’ legitimate pay expectations.”
