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UNIONS who represent Translink workers and NHS staff have suspended strikes to allow for members to vote on an improved pay offer while health care workers vote on pay offer.
Translink workers were set to walk out from midnight tonight but following an improved pay offer by Translink the three public transport trade unions GMB, SIPTU and Unite have called off the action to ballot members on the new deal.
Talks between unions and Translink management took place yesterday following the rejection of an initial pay offer by management on Thursday, February 22.
Workers in all three trade unions will now vote on the offer – the dates of the ballot will be announced in the coming days.
Davy Thompson from Unite said, “I don’t think its good enough in terms of the percentage but that’s the deal we have on the table.
“This is bite-sized chunks, we are going to a ballot we have suspended our action to allow that to happen, so let’s see what the next stages are off the back of that.”
Unions representing healthcare workers in the North are also set to ballot their members on a pay deal.
The proposed settlement would see the restoration of pay parity with England, and includes an uplift of 5% and a one-off payment of £1,505.
Unison, which represents thousands of workers, said months of industrial action had “finally yielded a result”.
Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed the news as “a positive step” towards reaching a pay settlement.
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