Union refuses to suspend strike action during pay ballot

Significant disruption to bin collection, leisure facilities and the closure of Dundonald Ice Bowl to customers will now continue until at least the end of the month.

A wage and cost of living offer was made by the council on Friday (September 30) to the GMB, NIPSA and Unite the Union.

The local authority asked Unite the Union for a suspension of industrial action whilst its members reviewed the offer.

A LCCC spokesperson said: “The council requested a suspension of industrial action until the ballot had concluded as has been the case in other councils.

“Council was disappointed to learn from Unite the Union that members who are currently on strike would not agree to suspend strike action during the ballot process.

“Whilst council is respectful of an individual’s right to strike, we now face a continued period of significant disruption across essential services for at least a further four-week period.”

Unite regional officer, Kieran Ellison, confirmed its ballot result will not be known until October 28.

A statement from Unite on October 4 read: “Unite can only assume that the public posturing from council is designed to try to turn public sentiment against those on industrial action.

“Such use of the media may serve to fix an immediate problem for council, but it is not conducive to resolving the issues, as instead further agitates those on industrial action who as yet have to vote to accept or reject the formal offer.”