HOUSING Executive maintenance workers have overwhelmingly voted to continue strike action, now believed to be the longest continuous walk out in recent history.
The approximately 400 workers, now out for more than four months, rejected the NIHE’s pay offer following a mass meeting late last week.
They are striking over demands for an uplift on the 2021/2022 national pay offer to local government workers of 1.75 per cent.
Following meetings brokered by the Labour Relations Agency (LRA), the NIHE offered a one off payment of £1,000 to lower paid workers and £500 to those on higher grades.
Some workers on the lowest wage of less than £20,000 were also offered an uplift of one pay point.
But the workers, and their union Unite, wanted across the board uplift of two pay points and a one off payment of £1,000.
“At this point, it is a bigger fight than wages – it is about dignity and respect after all that we have had to put up with,” said Barry Boyle, a shop steward.
The best trained workers, including electricians and carpenters, are paid in the region of £30,000.
According to Mr Boyle, many of the employees are paid so poorly they have been forced to use food banks and some have taken out loans form paramilitaries. The workers are currently on strike pay funded by the union.
Mr Boyle revealed the offer was rejected by a “huge” majority. He said 93.4 per cent of the workforce voted with 99.4 per cent against.
Unite said the strike is now into its twenty-third week, impacting maintenance services for social housing units.
In the midst of a homeless crisis, there are 193 social housing units in the affected areas lying empty despite having ‘live tickets’ issued for work to change their tenancy, the union said.
“In addition, more than 4,400 repair and maintenance jobs judged to be ‘emergency’ have been left undone and a further 9,600 works deemed routine have not been completed. 246 adaption jobs needed by disabled tenants are also outstanding.”
NIHE Chief Executive Grainia Long said: “After five days of constructive talks during November and December with trade unions facilitated through the Labour Relations Agency, we put a reasonable offer on the table.
“In addition to the national pay award of £1,925 for all staff, which was paid last month, we offered a one-off cost of living payment of £1,000 net for all staff earning up to £32,000, and £500 net for all other staff.
“Taking the national award and the additional £1,000 payment together this amounts to a 9.7% increase for an electrician and 12.5% increase for a plumber for the year 22/23.
“Our tenants pay for 70% of our staff salaries through their rents. In a cost of living crisis, our tenants would want to know that we are spending their money wisely.”
Unite regional officer Michael Keenan said: “Housing Executive bosses have sought to muddy the waters by referencing the 2022-2023 pay offer with has nothing to do with this pay dispute which is about the 2021-2022 financial year.
“They have also referenced the pay and grading review process which six years ongoing at this stage and is not an appropriate short-term solution and doesn’t even benefit the poorly-paid craft and trades workers we represent.”
,
