Staff at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, one of Northern Ireland’s largest local authorities, commenced industrial action today (17 July).

Members of GMB, NISPA, UNITE and SIPTU at the council have begun two weeks of work-to-rule action.

Spokesperson for the trade union side, Kevin Kelly, said: ‘Members of all four trade unions at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have lost confidence in management.

‘They are asking our lowest paid members to take pay cuts during a cost-of-living crisis, they are making staff redundant and offering severance packages while at the same time they are recruiting staff into similar positions.

‘They need to know this will not be tolerated by our members and we will take whatever action is required to ensure our members suffer no further hardship than already faces all workers at this time.’

Although action is confined to work-to-rule at this stage, the unions said significant impact to council services was likely, including to leisure centres and bin collections.

The council said it also expected reduced opening times at household recycling centres, and the opening and servicing of public toilets to be affected.

A spokesperson for the council said: ‘Council management and trade unions have held regular meetings assisted by the Labour Relations Agency with a view to resolving this dispute and management remains committed to a resolution.’

The spokesperson said the council was working with the unions to agree a new meeting date in early August.

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