Continuous strike action across Causeway Council begins
The Council has warned there could be some disruption to services
Unite the Union workers across the Causeway Coast and Glens borough are to begin continuous strike action from today (Thursday) in a dispute over pay.
The Council has warned that the all-out industrial action means there could be some disruption to services.
The main areas which may be affected are waste collection, Household Recycling Centres, and street cleansing.
However, while no bin collections can be guaranteed during the strike period, residents are being asked to leave their bins out for collection on their normal day and they will be emptied where there are sufficient crews to deliver a service.
Leisure Centres may also be affected.
The strike action relates to a dispute over 2021-2022 pay which is negotiated nationally by the National Joint Council (NJC) on behalf of councils in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Further to this, Council has been negotiating locally with trade unions, which led to the matter being discussed at Tuesday night’s full Council meeting.
Unite said a proposal to settle the strike by offering two pay point increments and a lump sum to workers – like that provided in Derry City and Strabane and in Mid-Ulster District Councils – was voted down by a majority of one councillor.
General Secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, pledged her union’s full support to the striking council workers.
She said:“Employers need to recognise the huge pressures the cost-of-living crisis is having on employees and their families.
“The vote by Causeway Coast and Glens councillors demonstrates a total failure to recognise the need to provide council workers with a living income.
“Unite members at Causeway Coast and Glens, at Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and at Lisburn and Castlereagh can count on the full backing of my union as they seek to defend jobs, pay and conditions.”
A pay dispute continues at nine of the eleven local councils across NI, the Housing Executive, Education Authority, and other education providers over the 2021-2022 NJC pay award.
Unite members are also involved in all-out strike action Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, in the latter they are joined by GMB and NIPSA.
Meanwhile the National Joint Council paid Unite members have commenced a four-week strike at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Gareth Scott is the regional officer for the council has expressed his union’s hope that other trade unions will now ballot their members.
He said: “Unite the union only suspended our action in the hope that councillors would support a deal similar to that which ended the disputes at Derry City & Strabane and Mid-Ulster councils.
“Disgracefully the proposal was defeated last night with the narrowest of margins and this now leaves our members with no alternative but to commence our planned strike action.
“We are hopeful that both NIPSA and GMB trade unions will now swiftly proceed to ballot their members and lend their strength to a joint strike action. Workers stand stronger when they stand together.”
The Council said the situation will be kept under review and has asked residents to check their social media channels and website for any further updates.
It added it deeply regrets that strike action is taking place and the impact this will have on residents.
Meanwhile, the Council has said it remains fully committed to finding a resolution through on-going discussions with Trade Unions with a view to full-service provision resuming as soon as possible.
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