Leisure centre workers go on 24-hour strike

The strike began at 00:01 BST on Tuesday and continues until midnight

Belfast leisure centre staff are taking part in a 24-hour strike over pay at facilities operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

Fourteen leisure centres and two gyms, including those in the Better Gym franchise, are owned by Belfast City Council, but operated by GLL.

The firm said it remains "engaged in constructive negotiations, with ongoing support from the Labour Relations Agency".

Unions said staff members are seeking a pay rise of £1 per hour in addition to the current offer, which they said would bring staff up to at least the living wage.

What will be affected?

The strike began at 00:01 BST on Tuesday and continues until midnight.

GLL said all Better leisure centres and gyms will be open on Tuesday but "due to limited staff availability, some services may be temporarily affected and opening hours will be reduced".

Customers are being asked to check individual centre websites for opening hours and service availability.

Better operates at:

• Andersonstown Leisure Centre

• Avoniel

• Ballysillan Leisure Centre

• Belvoir Activity Centre

• Better Gym Belfast

• Connswater

• Brook Leisure Centre

• Falls Leisure Centre

• Girdwood Community Hub

• Grove Wellbeing Centre

• Ozone Complex

• Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre

• Loughside Recreation Centre

• Olympia Leisure Centre and Spa

• Shankill Leisure Centre

• Templemore Baths

• Whiterock Leisure Centre

A spokesperson for GLL said if any activities or classes have been cancelled, customers will receive a notification.

Greenwich Leisure Limited said all centres will be open on Tuesday but "some services may be temporarily affected and opening hours will be reduced"

Why are unions going on strike?

General secretary for Unite, Sharon Graham, said it is "deeply unfair that Belfast leisure workers are the lowest paid leisure workers in Northern Ireland".

"Workers who perform the same tasks and have the same responsibilities are paid significantly less than they would be in neighbouring councils."

They described Belfast City Council's decision to outsource services to GLL as "disastrous, not just for workers who are underpaid and overstretched, but for the public who have endured hikes on charges".

Nipsa general secretary, Patrick Mulholland, says industrial action is regrettable but they will continue until they reach a 'positive outcome'

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme on Tuesday, Nipsa general secretary Patrick Mulholland said workers are "frustrated and angry about how they have been treated over the years".

"We are saying step up to the mark, pay what you owe us, and let us get this settled," he said.

Mr Mulholland said it is regrettable that they have reached this point, but believes, both sides have entered into negotiations in "good faith".

"We would like to see them progress - and I am sure GLL would as well," he said.

"We would have preferred not to have had to reach this point, but we are here now and we are sending a very clear message.

"We will continue with industrial action until such time as we get a positive outcome to this dispute."

In response, GLL said negotiations were ongoing and disputed that its staff are the "lowest paid in Northern Ireland".

A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: "GLL manage and run leisure centres across the city on behalf of council. GLL is a social enterprise that reinvests all profits back into the centres and all operational matters, including those relating to pay, are under its remit.

"Council is committed to working with GLL and its employees on the continued provision of leisure services in the city."

Further discussions between GLL and the unions are scheduled for Thursday.