Public transport will operate as usual this week
A 72-hour strike by bus and rail workers in Northern Ireland scheduled for later this week has been called off.
Unite, GMB and Shipto unions had notified Translink that they would take action on February 27, 28 and 29.
However, after talks on Sunday, the union announced it had received an improved pay offer from Translink.
The three public transport unions said they plan to hold a vote among their members on the new recruitment.
They said in a statement: “Wage negotiations between the Transport Union and TransLink management were reconvened today.” [Sunday] after management rejected an initial salary offer on Thursday. [22 February].
“Following receipt of the proposed pay improvements for all TransLink employees, labor officials have called off a 72-hour strike action scheduled for 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27th.”
A TransLink spokesperson said the company welcomed the decision to call off the strike.
It is thought Labor’s vote result could not be known until later in the week.
Union president Peter Macklin said he was “encouraged” by the offer.
GMB regional organizer Peter Macklin said the proposal was “satisfactory and sufficient to halt strike activity”.
However, he declined to reveal the details of the wage offer until it was communicated to union representatives and members.
“We are encouraged by [the offer]But ultimately the members will have their say,” he said.
Mr Macklin said the proposal would be given to GMB members and there would be no recommendation to vote for or against it.
public sector pay disputes
He said he hopes to distribute ballots to members this week.
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd welcomed the cancellation of the strike as a “positive development”.
Mr O’Dowd said he would like to thank the union and TransLink management for their “determination to find a solution to this dispute”.
The minister said resolving public sector pay quickly was a “key priority” for the new chief executive.
Transport was one of the sectors affected by large-scale public sector strikes in January
Public transport workers in Northern Ireland called off a strike on February 15 that would have halted bus and train services.
Unions say this is to give political leaders more scope to propose improvements to pay.