TSSA members at Translink to strike over pay during Open Championships

Translink workers in Northern Ireland are set to strike over pay during the Open golf championship at Portrush. 

Hundreds of TSSA members will walk out on 18th July and 19th July 2025. 

The strike is expected to halt all rail services and disrupt buses.

Both railway and bus staff voted heavily in favour of the action. 

More than 90% of supervisor grades at Northern Ireland Railways backed the strike, with over 80% support in other areas including Ulsterbus and management grades.

Translink recently made a pay offer but TSSA rejected it. 

The union said the offer did not meet members’ expectations. 

Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary at TSSA, said: “We are keen to meet Translink to resolve the ongoing disputes for all our members. 

“However, so far, the company has only made an inadequate offer to the supervisor grades and completely ignored our clerical and MPT members. This is not the way to resolve a pay dispute.

“I met the infrastructure minister, Liz Kimmins, last week to impress the urgency of this issue.”

Eslamdoust added: “Regrettably, it seems that both Translink and the minister are sitting on their hands and hoping that these disputes will go away. That’s simply not going to happen.

“Ultimately the responsibility for any disruption during The Open rests with Translink and the minister. 

“All we are asking for is the same deal that has been offered to other staff in Translink.”

She said: “The company is trying to fob us off with less, but TSSA members have shown with their overwhelming support in the ballot for strike action that they are not prepared to accept that.

“TSSA urges Translink to return to the table immediately with a fair and meaningful offer for all our members. Otherwise, we’ll see them on the picket line.”

A Translink spokesperson said: “We remain committed to achieving a positive resolution to the ongoing dispute with TSSA trade union.

“Engagement has been continuous, including meetings earlier this week. The majority of the workforce have already accepted a similar offer.

“To support progress, we are open to working with the Labour Relations Agency to help facilitate a mutually agreeable outcome.

“We remain committed to ensuring there is no impact to services.”