Northern Ireland

Translink staff to vote on new pay offer next week

Union members at Translink will vote on an improved pay offer next week (May 23-27). Picture by Mal McCann.
Union members at Translink will vote on an improved pay offer next week (May 23-27). Picture by Mal McCann. Union members at Translink will vote on an improved pay offer next week (May 23-27). Picture by Mal McCann.

Bus drivers and other Translink workers have been offered a 5 per cent pay rise to call off their strike, the Irish News understands

Any potential industrial action, which was due to have begun yesterday, is unlikely to take place until next month after it was suspended on Monday.

The GMB union said its members will be balloted on the new offer throughout next week (May 23-27).

The code of practice for industrial action in Northern Ireland states that unions should provide seven days’ notice before holding a ballot.

A further seven days is normally required before industrial action takes place.

It means if Translink staff reject the latest offer, industrial action is unlikely to take place until June 3 at the earliest.

Both Translink and the unions remained tight-lipped yesterday on the detail of the revised offer.

Unions had asked for a six per cent pay rise to tackle the cost of living crisis.

A spokesperson for Translink would only say that: “A revised offer is currently being communicated to staff.”

The Irish News understands that an initial offer of three per cent by Translink has effectively been upgraded to five per cent, backdated to April 2021.

The improved offer comes in the form of an additional two per cent ‘progression payment’, applicable to all staff.

It’s also believed the new Translink offer would see the removal of a probation rate of pay for new staff. But new employees would have to wait two years until they receive the additional two per cent progression payment.