Northern Ireland strike this Friday: Unlikely to be any buses or trains running as Unite, SIPTU and GMB transport unions take action

​The responsibility for the first public transport strike in Northern Ireland in eight years lies solely with Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris, the unions have said.

Davey Thompson, Deputy Regional secretary at Unite, said today: “It's very unlikely there will be any services unless there's a severe movement over the next 48 hours.”

He noted that workers at the Education Authority are also striking on Friday. "So there will be no school buses either,” he told the BBC.

The 24-hour strike begins at midnight on Thursday. GMB and SIPTU said they had rejected what amounted to a pay freeze, claiming it was equivalent to a 11 per cent real-terms pay cut once (RPI) inflation is taken into account.

Hospitality and retail sector representatives have said their members cannot afford the disruption.

Unions said a meeting between the unions and the permanent secretary of the Department for Infrastructure confirmed the primary problem is the “austerity budget” imposed by the secretary of state.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “To attempt to impose a pay freeze is sickening in what is the worst cost of living crisis for workers in decades. In taking strike action, our members can be confident of the full and continuing support of Unite.”

GMB regional organiser Peter Macklin said: “Strike action is always a last resort for all workers but our members have been offered no alternative but to halt work for a 24 hour period. The impact of this strike will be very significant and will affect all parts of Northern Ireland’s economy and society. The secretary of state must intervene now to improve funding for public transport services so that public transport workers can receive a cost of living pay increase.”

Niall McNally, regional organiser for SIPTU’s membership in Translink, said: “This is only the first day of planned strike action by bus and rail workers. Like all other public sector workers, those employed by Translink have a right to a pay increase that offers protection from rising prices. If further disruption in the lead up to Christmas is to be avoided, the secretary of state will need to reverse his approach, end the pay freeze policy and remove threats to public transport services in Northern Ireland.”