Trade unions have warned Belfast City Council that leisure centre staff could strike if a pay dispute with an outsourced management company is not resolved.
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) signed an updated recognition agreement with unions Unite and the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) following disputes in 2023.
But according to the unions, the firm failed to engage with them on the pay settlement for 2024, and will not disclose the new hourly rates, with recent consultative ballots showing ‘overwhelming’ support for industrial action.
A spokesperson for the company said: ‘GLL is disappointed with the statement from both Unite and NIPSA despite the continuing and increased levels of engagement between GLL and both unions.’
They added: ‘In the past two years, GLL has awarded very positive annual pay awards of between 5% and 12% in response to the cost-of-living crisis, which have been well received by staff across the board.’
NIPSA higher executive officer Steven Harvey argued that responsibility for the issue lay with Belfast City Council after it outsourced leisure centre management.
A council spokesperson said: ‘GLL is a social enterprise that reinvests all profits back into the centres and all operational matters, including those relating to pay, are under its remit.
‘Council is committed to working with GLL and its employees on the continued provision of leisure services in the city.’
