Armagh Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council strike: Alliance, Sinn Fein, DUP and UUP row over blame for unemptied bins

The strike began on 15 August and it involves more than 1,000 council workers who are protesting over their pay and conditions. It is expected to last beyond 11 September.

Alliance Party Group Leader on the council, Councillor Peter Lavery said his party has continued to engage within the process pushing for greater flexibility for the Council negotiating team.

“Unfortunately, the DUP and UUP groupings within Council have continually blocked every opportunity for Council’s management team to negotiate fully,” he said. His party believes there is a solution which balances responsible financial management and “a fair deal for staff” he said.

Sinn Fein Councillor Liam Mackle said his party “fully supports the workers’ demand for a fair pay deal”. He added: “Twice we have brought forward proposals that would help break the deadlock and deliver an end to the strike. Sadly our proposals have not enjoyed the support of the majority of councillors...”.

However the DUP and UUP cited concerns over ratepayers’ interests. DUP group Leader Mark Baxter said his party wants an end to the strike as quickly as possible.

“This is an all important issue and we wholeheartedly want to see an end to the strike action and the Borough services resumed in the quickest possible time frame,” he said.

“For the nationalist and Alliance parties in the council to suggest otherwise, is simply untrue and political posturing. We do not treat the rate payer resource lightly nor do we take the hard working council staff base for granted.

“There must be full cost transparency with any proposal and our party has consistently asked for this on behalf of those we represent. We are elected to ‘represent’ and take all the feedback from our ratepayers seriously - there can be no other basis to move forward.”

In a statement, the UUP said: “A pay deal that reflects their [employee’s] skills and meets the current financial pressures all households are now facing is needed and deserved. We are very aware we must be responsible with the public purse and the impact a pay rise will have on either the level of service we offer, or a mitigating rate rise to meet the financial pressure.”