Councils in Tyrone expect ‘disruption’ during industrial action

LEISURE centres, bin collections and other council services will be significantly impacted today (Monday) and throughout this week as workers take strike action over a pay dispute.

Unite the Union said a majority of its members had voted in favour of the industrial action, after its members rejected a pay increase of 1.75 per-cent, arguing that it amounted to a ‘real terms’ cut of seven per-cent with current high inflation rates.

The strike involves Unite members at all 11 councils in the North, the Education Authority, and the NI Housing Executive.

‘Check with council’

A spokesperson for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has advised that ‘anyone planning to attend any of our facilities is asked to check with the venue in advance’.

“While the council will endeavour to continue service provision as far as is possible, it is likely that the planned strike action will impact service provision,” they said. “The extent of the disruption is unlikely to be known until Monday, March 21, and residents are advised to follow the council’s communications channels where updated messages about service disruption will be posted.”

‘Recycling centres remain open’

Both Mid Ulster and Derry and Strabane councils have accepted there will be significant impacts caused by the the week-long protest.

“While brown bins will not be collected during the week-long action, which potentially involves more than 130 of the council’s employees, the council aims to continue with black bin collections as far as possible,” said a spokesperson for Mid Ulster Council.

“Residents are being advised to leave their black bins out for collection on the normal day by 7.30am and black bins will be emptied where there are sufficient crews to deliver a service. If black bins are not emptied, residents are being asked to take their bins back in from the kerbside and place them out again on their next scheduled collection day during the week beginning April 4, 2022.”

The council said where a collection service does not take place, residents can leave up to two waste bags beside their black bins on the next collection day and that all recycling centres will remain open during the week.

Swimming at Cookstown Leisure Centre will be closed today (Monday), with the availability of swimming reviewed on a daily basis for the remainder of the week.

‘Considerable disruption’

A spokesperson for Derry and Strabane council said it “fully respects the right of staff to take industrial
action” and said it expects “considerable disruption to a range number
of services such as refuse collection, street cleansing, recycling
centres and a number of other services”.

The council said blue and brown bin collection services will not operate during the week and that some recycling centres may be closed.

Street Cleansing services are also anticipated to be severely impacted while some Council owned public parks and play areas may have to close.

Similar to Mid Ulster, swimming pools at all leisure sites in Derry and Strabane will be closed as well as restrictions on other leisure centre activities.