A MASS meeting of striking Housing Executive workers will take place early next year to decide whether to accept an offer to end a long running action.
The approximately 300 directly employed maintenance workers, on the picket line since early September, will be given details of a one off cost of living payment.
But they, and their union Unite, are looking for every worker to be bumped up by two pay points, plus a cost of living increase of £1,000. The agency is offering £1,000 for lower grades and £500 for those on higher pay.
The dispute is happening amid turmoil over tenders and contracts with the NIHE most recently ending the process of offering several repair and maintenance contracts.
Separately, the agency, which manages close to 80,000 homes, accepted without further legal action 10 contractors walking away from major works jobs, including refurbishment of kitchens and bathrooms.
There is a “massive backlog” of work to be carried out, including change of tenancies, said Michael Keenan, Unite’s representative at NIHE.
Mr Keenan said the union and the NIHE have been talking since late November under the umbrella of the Labour Relations Agency.
“There has been some but it is not what we have been looking for,” Mr Keenan said. "We will be having a mass meeting to explain what the NIHE has offered and have a vote.”
This dispute is over the 2021/2022 pay increase. The UK government accepted a national pay body recommendation all local government workers be paid a further £1,950, which for Housing Executive workers represents approximately five to eight per cent depending on the grade.
But the union argues the pay is much lower than equivalent trained workers in the private sector. Directly employed workers are paid between approximately £18,000 with the highest earning less than £30,000.
“Management has said that with the assembly not sitting, the permanent secretary is making the decisions,” said Mr Keenan.
“They will consider the cost of living payment but argue the funding is not there in the budget for the pay point increase.”
A Housing Executive spokesperson said: “For the last five weeks, we have been engaged with trade union colleagues in facilitated discussions and conciliation through the Labour Relations Agency.
“The talks have adjourned and trade unions are currently consulting their members.”
Meanwhile, the executive has confirmed the collapse of the tender process for various contracts, for the maintenance of homes affecting work on bathrooms, kitchens, windows and doors. This follows contractors withdrawing during the summer from major work jobs and a dispute over response maintenance contracts with three companies. The companies agreed to continue work following a last day agreement over an uplift. Broadly, the companies argue the costs of materials and labour has risen so much they face losing losing money based on the original contract deals.
One source close to the contractors said of the collapse of the repair maintenance tender process: “They now need to go back into extension discussions with current repair maintenance contractors who they are in dispute with a lot of them, or put something else in place.
“Plus there will be little or no capital spend on bathrooms, kitchens, door insulation in 2023.”
The agency spokersperson said: “The Housing Executive can confirm it is discontinuing the procurement of a number of maintenance and repair contracts which are currently out for tender. The Housing Executive made this decision in order to review recent relevant NI Public Procurement Policy and the procurements in general. At this time, it is envisaged that a new procurement for the affected tenders will be issued in due course.
“There is no immediate impact on tenants or services."
