Strike action by bus drivers at Translink deferred after employers make revised pay offer

Unions representing bus drivers working for Ulsterbus and Metro services, Unite the union and the GMB, have announced the deferral of planned strike action due to commence this coming Monday (April 25) after negotiations led to a revised pay offer from employers.

Bus drivers will now be balloted on the new pay offer.

Unite the union deputy Regional Secretary Davy Thompson welcomed the move by Translink employers:

“The strike action planned by both Unite and GMB bus drivers would have resulted in the cancellation of all bus services across Northern Ireland from next Monday. Ahead of that eventuality the unions and employers engaged in direct negotiations on the issue of pay.”

Unite the union deputy Regional Secretary Davy Thompson.

Peter Macklin, GMB Regional Organiser said:

“As a result of those talks and the revised offer made by the employers, workplace representatives in both unions have decided to defer next week’s planned action and ballot the members. We will make public the results of that process as they become known.”

Following the agreement today, Translink said it welcomed the opportunity to work with officials from Unite the Union and GMB Bus Driver Trade Unions.

A Translink spokesperson said:

“We have an agreement to defer the planned strike action commencing Monday, 25th April while the bus drivers are balloted on a revised pay offer following further negotiations.

“We welcome this positive step and thank the Unions for their commitment to working together in an effort to build back public transport as a sustainable and better future for all.”

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Education Authority (EA) welcomed the news stating it will allow pupils to access their normal school transport on Ulsterbus and Metro from Monday 25 April.

In a statement a spokesperson the the EA commented:

“Unfortunately, disruption is still anticipated to some EA services as a result of the strike action being taken by Unite the Union which is scheduled to commence Tuesday 26 April to Sunday 1 May, and Tuesday 3 May to Sunday 8 May.

“This strike action is in relation to a national pay offer for Local Government staff working in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which has been accepted by the majority of Trade Unions and is in the process of being paid to staff. Therefore, Local Government organisations, including EA, do not have the power or authority to renegotiate this for Northern Ireland.

“EA will however continue to engage collectively with all of our recognised Trade Unions on other separate local issues impacting on pay terms and conditions.

“Whilst the majority of school, youth and other EA services are expected to operate as normal, or with minimal disruption due to contingency plans in place, we are expecting some disruption to EA home to school transport (yellow bus) services, some school meal services and the strike action is also likely to impact on the availability of some Classroom Assistants, particularly in Special Schools.

“It is anticipated that the main areas of disruption for home to school transport will be in the Greater Belfast area; Lisburn and Castlereagh, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Antrim, and Fermanagh and Omagh Council areas, with particular disruption expected to routes servicing Special Schools. There will also be localised disruption to services in other areas.”