Largest council in Northern Ireland has worst pay for leisure workers

Industrial action to commence Tuesday 15 July with a work to rule at outsourced leisure centres and gyms

Members of Unite and NIPSA employed at Belfast’s municipal leisure centres have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action.

The ballot followed the refusal of Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) to agree the workforce’s pay claim. The company is contracted by Belfast City council to manage its outsourced leisure centres and gyms.

As a result of GLLs failure to offer a fair pay offer a continuous work-to-rule will begin on Tuesday 15 July. The unions also contacted GLL to clarify that they stood ready to commence negotiations to resolve the pay dispute at any time.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is a disgrace that leisure workers at Belfast leisure centres are earning far less than workers doing the same job in neighbouring councils. The council’s decision to outsource services to GLL has proven disastrous not just for workers who are underpaid and overstretched but for the public who have endured hikes on charges.

Because of the outsourcing of leisure services by Belfast City Council, pay for workers at leisure centres has fallen considerably behind that for leisure workers employed by other councils in Northern Ireland. Workers are seeking an additional one pound an hour pay increase this year which will reduce the pay differential with other leisure workers.

Unite regional officer Kieran Ellison, he said, “The workers are seeking one pound more an hour on pay as a start to closing the pay gap.”

The unions have also contacted GLL to clarify that they stood ready to commence negotiations to resolve the pay dispute at any time.

NIPSA spokesperson Janette Murdock said, “Belfast city council is the biggest council in Northern Irelandbut its leisure workers have the worst pay in the region. GLL’s unreasonable refusal has led to this industrial dispute and potential for a sharp escalation over the summer. The unions jointly contacted GLL on Friday [4 July] to confirm our readiness to enter negotiations at any time. That said, GLL should be under no illusions as to our members’ collective determination to close the pay chasm that has opened since Belfast council outsourced leisure services.”

In the run up to this ballot, both unions reported a surge in leisure workers signing up for membership.

ENDS….

For further information or to arrange an interview with either trade union contact Donal O’Cofaigh, Unite campaigns, communications & press (NI), tel. 07810 157926.