LEISURE centre users across Belfast are set for major disruption after half of the employees at 11 centres in the city voted for strike action later this month.
Unite has confirmed the 24 hour stoppage will take place on Tuesday, May 24 and workers will adopt a work-to-rule and overtime ban until their demands are met. It is believed other unions may also strike on this date.
The strike action will affect Andersonstown, Whiterock, Falls Road, Olympia, Ballysillan, Avoneill, Grove Well-Being, Loughside, Ozone, Belvoir, and Shankill Leisure Centres across the city.
Davy Edmont, Unite officer for workers at the leisure centres confirmed "services will be greatly disrupted", including many swimming clubs who use the facilities for early morning classes.
They have been asked to join the picket line in support of workers, who have raised concerns over their pay and pensions, along with staffing levels.
"The vast majority of our members would be delivering the likes of spin classes, fitness classes, stuff like that and they will all now not take place," Mr Edmont said.
The decision to strike follows a ballot in which 97 per cent of Unite trade union members voted for strike action in a row with Greenwich Leisure Ltd's (GLL) over pensions and other staffing concerns.
Approximately 50 per cent of staff at the 11 leisure centres are Unite members.
According to the union the original agreement was for full pension contributions to be underwritten by Belfast City Council.
Mr Edmont also claimed staff were unhappy with some of the working conditions and said he did not believe there would be a resolution unless there was a "dramatic change" to the terms of any agreement.
Since January 1, 2015 Belfast City Council has been working in operation with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) and operate all their leisure facilities in Belfast under the Better brand.
GLL is currently the largest public leisure centre operator in the UK and manages over 150 leisure centres.
A spokesman from Belfast City Council said it was "disappointed" to learn of the planned strike at the city's leisure centre.
"The council is committed to working with GLL, its employees and their representatives to resolve the difficulties and ensure the continued provision of leisure services to all our ratepayers across Belfast," he added.
