Translink: Bus and rail unions to re-enter pay talks

Image source, Claire Brennan

Image caption, Bus and rail workers have staged several days of industrial action

Trade unions representing public transport workers in Northern Ireland have said they will re-enter discussions with Translink over pay.

Bus and rail workers have staged several days of industrial action in recent months.

This week they voted to reject an offer for 2023/24 which included a 5% pay uplift and a one-off payment of 拢1,500.

Unite, GMB and Siptu described the offer as "inadequate".

On Wednesday, Translink chief executive Chris Conway told 大象传媒 News NI the company "doesn't have any more funding to address pay".

He said Translink had negotiated "very hard" over a long period to reach the deal which had been put to staff.

Last month, the unions agreed to suspend planned strike dates in February while talks progressed.

The action had caused widespread disruption, including some dates in the run-up to Christmas.

On Friday, the unions issued a joint statement which said they would make no further public comments on the dispute ahead of the conclusion of talks.

Translink said it had "engaged with the trade unions and the process is on-going".

"There will be no further comment at this stage," a spokesperson added.