Council staff go on strike for ‘fair’ pay

Workers taking part in Thursday's strike. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

The strikers, who gathered outside the council’s Central depot in Altona, joined thousands of public sector workers staff at libraries, leisure centres, housing executive offices and other council-run premises during the national industrial action on Thursday July 10.

Members of Nipsa, Unite, the GMB, Unison, Siptu and the PCS supported trade unions in England and Wales in the strike action.

Unions said one of the things they were protesting about was a pay offer from the government they claim was worth only 1%.

Uel Roberts, Nigel Gregg (Unite Chair for Local Authorities) and Brian Coburn who took part in the strike. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

Nigel Gregg, Unite Chair for Local Authorities, said: “We are striking for a decent and fair pay rise. Our workers are the ones out there doing jobs that have to be done. Bin men, gardeners, grave diggers, council maintenance  staff, street cleansing for example. They deserve a fair wage.”

Uel Roberts, a bin lorry driver for Lisburn City Council said: “We have to stand for our rights and our wages. We are on peanuts at the moment and we have to make a stand on this - it is just the beginning.” He added: “Further strike action is planned in September and will include a two day stoppage.”

Brian Coburn, Grave Digger from Lisburn, said: “We are all standing together because we are low paid like all public sector workers. This is not a decision taken lightly.

“The government says the economy is doing well but yet we are still the lowest paid.”