Public transport workers in Northern Ireland are holding a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay. The action has been organised by trade unions Unite, GMB and Siptu and is taking place during one of the busiest weekends before Christmas. School transport has been particularly affected, with many pupils unable to attend school. The Education Authority warned of “significant disruption” and additional impacts on school meals and trips. A further day of action is scheduled for 22 December.
Eamon Sturgeon, a bus driver on a picket line in Belfast, said workers felt they had “no other option but to strike”. He added that public support for the action had been great, asserting that “they understand that we deserve to be paid right”. Speaking on the picket line in Derry, Brian Warke, a bus driver at Pennyburn bus depot, said his colleagues were struggling to make ends meet and couldn’t pay their mortgages as they had received no pay rise this year.
The Industrial action has faced criticism from representatives of the hospitality and retail sectors as it falls during one of the busiest periods of the year. Stephen Margorrian of hospitality collective Horatio Group said the latest round of strikes could lead to some businesses closing their doors for good. Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the timing of the strikes was poor and would hit independent retailers on life support.
On Friday, Davy Thompson from Unite said the action being taken was justified. He said that strike action was a “very last resort” because the secretary of state could resolve the issue with the stroke of a pen. Northern Ireland’s secretary of state has recently been engaged in talks with Stormont’s largest parties this week about the restoration of the executive, with a £2.5bn financial package offered by the UK government that includes provision for public sector pay increases
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