O’Dowd meets transport trade unions to discuss pay award

Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has met members of the GMB, SIPTU, and Unite unions to discuss the pay award for transport workers.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister O’Dowd thanked the Trade Unions for calling off strike action planned for next week: 

“The move by the unions to call off next Thursday’s planned industrial action to allow time for talks is an act of good faith on their behalf.

"For my part, I will do everything within my power to help bring this matter to a speedy conclusion.

"Today’s meeting was constructive, I welcomed the opportunity to talk with the unions about this issue.

"Pay awards for the public sector are high on the Executive’s agenda and I am working with colleagues across the Executive to bring this matter to a successful conclusion.

"Our public services have been decimated by a decade of British Government imposed cuts and austerity.

"Transport workers and indeed everyone working in the public sector provide essential public services and therefore should be paid accordingly. As we all know too well the cost of just living continues to rise and so too should pay.”

Notes to editors: 

1. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk .
2. Follow us on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure and on LinkedIn at DfILinkedIn.
3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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