Beginning on Monday, road maintenance employees in Northern Ireland will be on strike for seven days, disrupting crucial services such as gritting and oil spill cleanup. The workers, who are members of the unions Unite and GMB, demand that productivity bonuses be incorporated into their pay rather than left to the managers’ discretion.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, stated: “This productivity bonus must be incorporated into employee compensation and not be subject to the whims of managers. Unite wholeheartedly supports our Roads Service members.” Gareth Scott, the regional officer in charge of roads service personnel, stated that the bonus plan is “broken beyond repair” and that staff have no choice but to strike.
The Department of Infrastructure has asked motorists to exercise caution due to the reduction of key services. This involves gritting the roads, responding to and cleaning up oil spills or debris, repairing major flaws such as potholes, and clearing and cleaning gullies. The A1 and A4 will not be disrupted by industrial action, nor will motorways.
The department is now collaborating with the Department of Finance and the relevant unions to resolve the pay-related concerns. Thousands of education and health care workers went on strike over pay disagreements on Tuesday.
In a dispute over salary, road maintenance employees in Northern Ireland will go on strike for seven days beginning on Monday. The Department of Infrastructure has notified motorists that key services such as gritting and oil spill cleanup may be impacted by the strike.
Approximately 200 of the employees are members of the unions Unite and GMB, and they want productivity bonuses to be incorporated into their pay instead of being at the managers’ discretion. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, stated, “This productivity reward must be integrated into workers’ remuneration and not subject to managers’ whims.” Gareth Scott, the chief regional officer for road service employees, stated that the bonus plan is “beyond repair” and that workers have no choice but to strike.
During the walkout, the Department of Infrastructure has warned that essential services will be limited. This involves gritting roads, responding to and cleaning up oil spills or debris, fixing significant problems such as collapsed potholes, and clearing and cleaning gullies. The A1 and A4 will not be disrupted by industrial action, nor will motorways.
The department is now collaborating with the Department of Finance and the relevant unions to negotiate a wage agreement. This comes after hundreds of education and healthcare workers went on strike last week over pay disputes.
