Translink staff across Northern Ireland are continuing their strike which began on December 3. Unions have argued that the absence of a pay offer since April from the Department for Infrastructure has led to them having no option but to strike. General manager of the Garrick Bar in Belfast, Liam Dawson, reported losing 70% of his bookings. The Cellar Bar in Lurgan meanwhile recorded 25 cancellations and a significant drop in walk-ins. The disruption has also affected pupils and their parents, some of whom were unable to reach school.
Trade unions Unite, GMB and Siptu had voted in favour of the strike in November, the third such action since the start of the ongoing dispute. Union leaders have pointed to attempts to initiate a pay freeze, while Translink has said it didn’t receive funding for a pay offer.
Chris Heaton-Harris, the UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary, is currently engaging in discussions with Stormont’s largest parties about the restoration of the province’s executive. He has brought a £2.5bn financial package with him, which could be used to fund public sector pay increases. Ellen Taylor of the Secondary Students Union NI has supported Translink workers’ call for a pay rise, calling them “underpaid and undervalued
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