Derry bus services to be hit as drivers strike over pay rise

Translink bus workers are to go on strike later this month, which will cause disruption to Ulsterbus and Metro services in Derry and across the North of Ireland.

Trade union Unite announced on Thursday the staff will be taking industrial action against the company’s latest pay offer in collaboration with another union – GMB – with a week-long industrial strike starting on Monday, April 25 and concluding on May 1.

Bus workers will take a further one-day strike on Friday, May 6.

Unite the Union and GMB members at the public transport operator initially balloted their members on the matter, with Translink offering a 3% pay rise, a level the unions claim represents a real terms pay cut for staff and one which has been rejected four times by workers.

The pay dispute affects drivers, cleaners and shunters, who are responsible for the parking and moving of buses.

Earlier this month, Unite said any action taken by their workers could potentially “paralyse all bus services across Northern Ireland” and urged Translink to enter into “meaningful talks”.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These bus workers are frontline workers – they deserve respect and a pay increase.

“Translink needs to grasp that there’s a cost of living crisis destroying the value of wages and return with a more acceptable offer.

“Unite’s members have my full support and that of their union in taking this strike action for fairer pay.”

Unite’s deputy regional secretary Davy Thompson is also the lead officer for the public transport provider.

He added: “Unite represents the overwhelming majority of bus workers, and this strike action taken in conjunction with GMB which also represents bus workers will shut down all bus services.

“Bus workers deserve a pay increase. The ball is in the court of Translink management. They can avoid this unnecessary and highly disruptive strike – they need to address our members’ legitimate pay expectations.”

Translink told the Belfast Telegraph they were “disappointed” over the vote on industrial action and described their pay offer as “fair and reasonable”.

A company spokesperson commented: “We are disappointed to learn that Unite and GMB Bus Driver Trade Unions have voted to take industrial action.

“Following extensive negotiations, we made a pay offer, including an enhanced package of conditions, that we believe is fair and reasonable.

“We remain committed to working with the unions to avert this action”.

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