Continuous council strikes without end dates possible across nine authorities where pay still in dispute

Pay disputes had been raised across all eleven councils, although two have now reached agreement for a pay rise of around 6.75% with unions.

Some 200 workers at Lisburn and Castlereagh Borough Council joined union colleagues at Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council on strike today, with no end dates determined.

Sources indicate that workers in Newry Mourne and Down may soon be joining them, as soon as all active unions there have completed balloting their members.

Unite the union has taken strike ballots at all 11 councils so can, in principle, take action in any of them at any time, subject to seven days notice. NIPSA and the GMB are also involved in the strikes.

Management at Mid Ulster District Council had previously agreed a deal, with management at Derry City and Strabane Borough Councils also announcing a deal today.

Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham congratulated her union’s membership at Derry City and Strabane District Council on a substantial pay win.

“Derry City and Strabane workers have won a considerable pay offer over the bare 1.75 percent pay increase offered nationally,” she said. “This is now the second council in Northern Ireland where workers have won a decent pay increase through strike action.”

Talks are ongoing in the other nine councils after industrial action across NI in April. Up to five councils have made offers which are under consideration although it is understood there are currently no formal offers from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council nor Belfast City Council; Belfast has imposed two one off payments without union agreement.

Mid Ulster District Council and Derry and Strabane Borough Council have now agreed two pay point increases plus a one-off cash payment. This means two new salary bands have been created for the same job category. Each pay point is an increase of around 2-2.5%.

Combined with the UK-wide National Joint Council offer of 1.75% mean, this mean a total pay rise of around 6.75% has been awarded in both councils.

The NI wide pay dispute has been ongoing for over a year and covers pay up until March this year.

There is also a further offer on the table from NJC valid from April for a flat cash payment of £1,925 to all council workers across NI although Unite is recommending a rejection of this offer.

Last week the Unite regional officer for Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Kieran Ellison, called on management at his council to follow the lead given by Mid Ulster and Derry City & Strabane.

“Council bosses and the councillors in this council need to look to the example of other councils where this dispute has already been ended through an offer that protects the income of our members.”

Unite argues that substantial pay rises are necessary, citing retail price inflation of above 12 percent and forecast to rise to 18 percent by the end of the year.

At Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Alliance and Sinn Fein have called for “a fair deal” for workers, although the DUP and UUP have urged careful consideration about the impact on ratepayers.