Belfast leisure centre workers set for 24-hour strike

Fourteen leisure centres and two gyms in Belfast, including those in the Better Gym franchise, will be affected by the strike

More than 200 Belfast leisure centre workers will take part in a 24-hour strike over pay at facilities operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) on Tuesday.

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

The Unite and NIPSA trade unions, who represent the workers, said talks ended without the management company making an improved pay offer.

In a joint statement, the unions said the action, which will take place on 12 August, is "likely to shut down" operations at a number of centres.

'Deeply unfair'

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

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

Patrick Mulholland, deputy general secretary for trade union Nipsa, said the pay issue needs to be resolved.

"Pay is between 13% and 15% lower for Belfast leisure centre workers than it is for leisure centre workers anywhere else in Northern Ireland," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra.

"The service was passed out to GLL some 10 years ago. Over that 10-year period, pay has dropped by 13%, and the price to service users has gone up higher than it is in leisure services in the rest of Northern Ireland."

Mr Mulholland added that the industrial action on Tuesday will be a "demonstration of people's' anger".

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".

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."

A GLL spokesperson said a mediated meeting with the unions is due to take place on Friday "making any suggestion that negotiations have ended false".

"Throughout this process, GLL has engaged in good faith with union representatives and has put forward a fair and positive pay award of 3–5%.

"GLL also disputes the claim that its staff are the lowest paid in Northern Ireland, with salaries for GLL roles broadly comparable to those offered for similar positions in neighbouring councils."