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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Council workers staging strike | Council workers staging strike |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Picket lines have formed outside council offices and public buildings in Northern Ireland, as local government workers start a two-day strike. | Picket lines have formed outside council offices and public buildings in Northern Ireland, as local government workers start a two-day strike. |
| Employers say across the UK, just under a quarter of workers are taking part in the action. But they claim the figure is lower in Northern Ireland. | Employers say across the UK, just under a quarter of workers are taking part in the action. But they claim the figure is lower in Northern Ireland. |
| Unions say the rising cost of food and petrol effectively makes a 2.45% pay offer a pay cut, and they want 6%. | |
| Bin collections have not been affected in a number of council areas. | |
| Antrim, Armagh, Ards, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Magherafelt, Moyle and Omagh are have all reported normal service. | |
| Many leisure centres have shut down. | Many leisure centres have shut down. |
| Is your council hit by the strike? | Is your council hit by the strike? |
| The City of Derry airport is closed, as is Belfast Zoo. | |
| The housing executive said it had plans for low staff numbers this week anyway, due to the Twelfth. It is maintaining essential services but its offices in west Belfast, Londonderry and Ballycastle have closed. | The housing executive said it had plans for low staff numbers this week anyway, due to the Twelfth. It is maintaining essential services but its offices in west Belfast, Londonderry and Ballycastle have closed. |
| Belfast Zoo has been closed due to the strike | Belfast Zoo has been closed due to the strike |
| All libraries are closed in Belfast, while all are open in the North Eastern area. Across Northern Ireland the picture is mixed, with customers being advised to check first whether the service is operating. | |
| Albert Mills of the Unite union said he hoped the strike would "send a signal to employers, 'get round the table, let's talk, let's resolve these issues'. We want to resolve it and we need to resolve it. | |
| "So we're asking them to do the decent thing and get round the table." | "So we're asking them to do the decent thing and get round the table." |
| The Local Government Association has said the strike is regrettable, but the 2.45% pay increase is their best and final offer. | The Local Government Association has said the strike is regrettable, but the 2.45% pay increase is their best and final offer. |
| Union members say that is not enough. | Union members say that is not enough. |
| Unions argue that with the cost of living becoming more and more expensive, their members need an increase of 6%. | Unions argue that with the cost of living becoming more and more expensive, their members need an increase of 6%. |
| But employers say frontline services could be cut if salaries were to increase. They also point out the unions are split on the issue - the GMB union has accepted the pay deal. | But employers say frontline services could be cut if salaries were to increase. They also point out the unions are split on the issue - the GMB union has accepted the pay deal. |