Second transport strike to go ahead says union Unite

Unite said the 24-hour strike would affect all Ulsterbus, Metro and NI Railways services

Public transport workers are to take part in a second strike that will affect all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland, the union Unite has said.

Unite said the 24-hour strike was being planned for Wednesday 6 May.

Last month, public transport workers took part in a one-day strike involving education, administration and health service staff.

It caused disruption across many areas of Northern Ireland.

Unite said the second strike would affect Ulsterbus, Metro and NI Railways services.

Its regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said workers were taking industrial action in response to proposed cuts to Translink's bus and rail services.

He said: "The proposed cuts will impact the most vulnerable people in our society - including the old and infirm, those with families, the working poor, those living in isolated, rural communities who are dependent on public transport.

"These cuts will compromise the integrity and inter-connectivity upon which Northern Ireland's public transport system rests.

"Our drivers and engineers are concerned that cuts to 'non-economic' services presage moves to break up and contract out profitable routes - a move that would undermine the 85% of routes that are non-profitable."

Unite added that it will be working with other trade unions that represent Translink staff to take forward the industrial action.