Northern Ireland faces a ‘complete shutdown’ as a bus strike ballot begins on St Patrick’s Day [17 March 2022]
Unions GMB and Unite are set to ballot the majority of Translink’s bus workforce from tomorrow until 1 April.
If the strike goes ahead, the entire bus network will grind to a halt.
Unions submitted a pay claim of 6 per cent to help the bus drivers, cleaners and shunters cope with rampant inflation of 7.8 per cent.
Translink bosses have refused to budge from their offer of 3 per cent, an offer workers have now rejected three times.
Peter Macklin, GMB Organiser, said:
"GMB members feel aggrieved and disrespected.
“Translink don’t seem to appreciate what workers went through during the pandemic.
“They made sure other essential workers could travel to and from their workplaces to perform their vital roles.
“Our members were proud to carry out their duty in delivering the service, which potentially put themselves and their families lives at risk.
“Now, because they feel the company has failed to listen to their concerns, Translink faces the first ballot for pay related industrial action in almost two decades.
“The dispute, which affects bus drivers, cleaners and shunters will close the entire bus network within Northern Ireland. It will be a complete shutdown.”
