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Council staff strike threat

A TRADE union has threatened industrial action if Belfast City Council votes to outsource its leisure services. The council's policy and resources committee endorsed the outsourcing plans yesterday. The full council will vote on the plans on May 1. The council operates 10 leisure centres in the city. Trade union Nipsa said that around 300 jobs would be affected if the changes go ahead and that it "won't rule out taking industrial action". A statement from the council said yesterday: "A new leisure trust model has been backed by Belfast City Council to transform its leisure services. "The council's strategic policy and resources committee confirmed this morning its decision taken in February, as part of a £105 million investment over the next 10 years to improve leisure provision in the city."