Any pay dispute with bus and rail workers can only be resolved at the Northern Ireland Executive level, Translink has confirmed ahead of the planned one day strike next Friday.
Union representatives were told by management, including chief executive Chris Conway, pay negotiations are on hold until Stormont is back up and running, according reports of a meeting between the parties.
Members of Unite, GMB and SIPTU working for Translink voted overwhelmingly for the 24-hour strike action, with representatives saying the company is attempting to enforce a "pay freeze". All bus and rail services across the north will halt during the strike action, beginning at 12.01am next Friday.
“Following the budget allocation from the Secretary of State, Translink did not receive a budget for a pay offer from the Department for Infrastructure and as such cannot make a pay offer at this time," a Translink spokesperson said.
"Ultimately this issue needs to be resolved for many public sector workers at the NI Executive level."
Read more: Bus and train services set for standstill as unions confirm 24-hour strike over pay
The company said it understands and recognises the concerns that led to the decision to vote for the strike but is urging them to not to take the action that could "further exacerbate the financial pressures on Translink".
In a joint statement, the three unions said representatives met with Mr Conway and "highlighted the ability of Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to intervene and adequately fund public transport", including a cost of living adjusted pay increase.
“Public transport has been underfunded in Northern Ireland for many years now. The punitive budget recently imposed by the Secretary of State on the Department for Infrastructure goes further and leaves workers with no alternative but to take strike action to defend themselves," the unions said.
Translink, urging workers to pull back from strike action, said it "could impact on school children and could damage the livelihoods of many businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors who depend on the busy Christmas period".
“We remain committed to working with our colleagues in the trade unions to avoid disrupting services that so many of our passengers rely on," the company said.
A passenger information page, www.translink.co.uk/industrialaction, has been set up while its contact centre is also open, telephone 028 90 666 630.
The action is taking place on the day Translink planned to launch its late-night train and Goldliner/Urby bus services ahead of the Christmas period. Late night- Metro bus services in Belfast begin on Friday.