Industrial action taking place over pay dispute at council

by Q Radio News

Staff at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are taking industrial action today over a pay dispute.

Unions have said talks collapsed between officials and council management leaving 'no alternative' but to take strike action.

Workers are expected to take part in socially distanced pickets at Monaghan Row Council Offices and Greenbank Council Depot in Newry, as well as Downshire Civic Centre and Strangford Road Depot in Downpatrick.

In a joint trade union side statement, unions said "progress had been made", but more still needed to be done.

Workers laid the blame for the ‘avoidable’ industrial dispute at the feet of council management who they claim had failed to address their members’ legitimate concerns.

The statement said: “The trade unions engaged with the council management team in last minute and intense talks mediated by the Labour Relations Agency to seek a resolution to this dispute. While some progress was made in relation to job evaluation, job descriptions and a timetable for the completion of the negotiations, we failed to secure what was needed in relation to pay equality.

“The dispute centres over how pay differences and disparities in terms and conditions inherited from legacy councils more than five years ago will be harmonised. Due to management delay in engaging with us on this issue, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is now the last remaining council to resolve it. The point in contention is that for those workers whose pay grades are re-evaluated upwards, they will lose all pay progression accrued and will start at the bottom of the new grades.

“This is not acceptable to our members – it is a pay equality issue. While senior management have dragged their heels in dealing with pay harmonisation for lower paid workers, they agreed and have benefited from their own regrading years ago. We are just asking for some recognition of our members’ contribution since the establishment of the new council.

The strike follows a long-running dispute over pay equality following the merger of Down District Council and Newry and Mourne District Council

Alan Perry from GMB union said it was disappointing that talks had broken down.

In a statement, the council said: "Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is disappointed that the JTUS is continuing with plans for strike action in light of the pay proposals put forward together with management side’s acceptance of the five other requests of the JTUS. However, the Council respects the JTUS right to take industrial action.

"A meeting of the Council’s Strategy Policy and Resources Committee on 1 December 2020 agreed in principle for ratification at full Council, the proposal put forward by Senior Management. The pay proposals once ratified by Council will be effective from 1 December 2020.

"Newry, Mourne and Down District Council remains fully committed to resolving this dispute, to ensuring fair pay, transparency and equality for all its employees and to delivering value for money for all rate payers in the Council area, especially at a time when many are experiencing
significant financial hardship.

"The Council will continue to work with the LRA and to engage in dialogue with the Trade Unions to find a workable solution as quickly as possible."