Zarah ChoudharyTrade unions Unite and the North Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) have met Belfast City Council management and warned of the prospect of disruptive industrial action by leisure centre workers.
The workforce is in a pay dispute with outsourced management company Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).
Following disputes in late 2023, GLL recommitted to an updated recognition agreement with both unions.
Despite this, according to Unite, the management failed to engage with the unions and instead imposed a pay settlement for 2024.
This month, an employee absence policy was imposed for GLL staff in the face of opposition by both unions.
Kieran Ellison, regional officer at Unite, said: “Belfast council’s decision to outsource leisure services to GLL has been disastrous for both users and workers.
“GLL has imposed a two-tier workforce which undermined leisure workers’ pay and conditions.
“Our pressure led to a council promise that GLL would correctly recognise unions but to date GLL`s actions have undermined this. Our members’ patience has run out.
“Unless we see a dramatic change, both our unions will be left with no alternative but to ballot for strike action.”
In September 2023, the unions submitted a joint pay claim for a return to National Joint Committee pay scales from 1st January.
GLL has imposed a new non-NJC based pay regime from April 2024 and are refusing to disclose the new hourly rates, to clarify whether allowances have been reduced or the actual uplift in pay rates.
Unite and NIPSA both recently concluded consultative ballots that confirmed overwhelming support for strike action and action short of strike.
Steven Harvey, higher executive officer at NIPSA, said: “The consultative ballots showed the strength of our members’ concerns on pay.
“GLL management must now deliver clarity and transparency on pay. If not, we will proceed with a full strike ballot.
“The ultimate responsibility lies with Belfast City Council who took the decision to hand over the leisure centres to GLL.
“If GLL will not negotiate with workforce representatives on pay and conditions, the council must intervene to ensure that leisure workers have basic trade union representation.”
Following the meeting with Belfast City Council, council bosses committed to convene a tripartite meeting involving Greenwich Leisure Limited, the two trade unions and council officers, to seek a resolution to the industrial dispute.
Workplace Journal reached out to Greenwich Leisure Limited and Belfast City Council for comment prior to publication.
