Three day public transport strike to go ahead as unions reject pay offer

A three day strike by transport workers in Northern Ireland is set to go ahead next week.

Thousands of Translink workers on bus and rail services are expected to walk out for 72 hours from February 27 after unions rejected an “inadequate pay offer”.

Officials from the transport unions GMB, Unite and SIPTU held meetings with Translink on Thursday.

A statement from the unions on Friday said they “stand ready to enter further dialogue with the company if they wish to avoid the action by improving on today’s offer”.

The statement added: “The 72-hour strike action commencing on a staggered basis from midnight on February 27 remains in place.

“Unions are fully prepared to return to negotiations provided Translink is prepared to make a substantially improved offer.”

The three day strike is the latest in a series taken by Translink workers over pay and conditions, but will be the longest continual action as part of the current dispute.

Train and bus drivers participated in a number of days of strike action before Christmas, bringing public transport services to a halt across Northern Ireland.

Translink workers also took part in one of the largest strikes in Northern Ireland’s history last month, involving workers from multiple public sectors.

Last week, Stormont ministers agreed to release £688 million to make outstanding pay awards for public sector workers in Northern Ireland.

Individual departments have each been given an allocation to negotiate with relevant trade unions on the pay rises that will be introduced.

However, unrest among unions seeking pay parity with the rest of the UK has continued.

This week, junior doctors in Northern Ireland voted to take part in strike action over pay next month, and education unions have warned of further industrial action in their sector as a dispute over the pay and grading of school support staff in Northern Ireland continues.