Staff at Belfast leisure centres could down tools in a row over pay.
Unions Unite and NIPSA are warning they “will be left with no alternative but to ballot for strike action” after GLL “imposed” a pay settlement for 2024 and introduced a new employee absence policy “in the face of opposition by both unions”.
GLL, or Greenwich Leisure Limited, who run Belfast City Council ’s leisure centres, say they are “disappointed” with the unions’ statement, adding that in “the past two years, GLL has awarded very positive annual pay awards of between 5% and 12% in response to the cost-of-living crisis”.
In their statement, Unite and NIPSA said they have met Belfast city council management and “warned them of the prospect of disruptive industrial action by leisure centre workers”.
They added: “The workforce is in a pay dispute with outsourced management company Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). Following disputes in late 2023, GLL recommitted to an updated recognition agreement with both unions. Despite this, management failed to engage with the unions and instead imposed a pay settlement for 2024.
“This month a new employee absence policy was imposed for GLL staff in the face of opposition by both unions.”
Unite regional officer Kieran Ellison added: “Belfast council’s decision to outsource leisure services to GLL has been disastrous for both users and workers. GLL has imposed a two-tier workforce which undermined leisure workers’ pay and conditions.
“Our pressure led to a council promise that GLL would correctly recognise unions but to date GLL’s actions have undermined this. Our members’ patience has run out. Unless we see a dramatic change, both our unions will be left with no alternative but to ballot for strike action.”
The unions say that in September 2023 they submitted a joint pay claim for a return to National Joint Committee pay scales from January 1, but that GLL “imposed a new non-NJC based pay regime from April 2024 and are refusing to disclose the new hourly rates, to clarify whether allowances have been reduced or the actual uplift in pay rates”.
Unite and NIPSA say they have both recently concluded consultative ballots that “confirmed overwhelming support for strike action and action short of strike”.
Steven Harvey, NIPSA higher executive officer, said: “The consultative ballots showed the strength of our members’ concerns on pay. GLL management must now deliver clarity and transparency on pay. If not, we will proceed with a full strike ballot.
“The ultimate responsibility lies with Belfast City Council who took the decision to hand over the leisure centres to GLL. If GLL will not negotiate with workforce representatives on pay and conditions, the council must intervene to ensure that leisure workers have basic trade union representation.”
Following the meeting with Belfast City Council, council bosses, the unions say, “committed themselves to convene a tripartite meeting involving Greenwich Leisure Limited, the two trade unions and council officers to seek a resolution to the industrial dispute”.
In response, GLL said they were “disappointed with the statement from both Unite and NIPSA despite the continuing and increased levels of engagement between GLL and both unions”.
They added: “In September 2023, GLL signed a voluntary Recognition Agreement with Belfast Trade Unions, establishing a framework for constructive dialogue. In the past two years, GLL has awarded very positive annual pay awards of between 5% and 12% in response to the cost-of-living crisis, which have been well received by staff across the board. These increases were well above the Northern Ireland average pay rise of 4.3% in 2024.
“GLL is a not-for-profit charitable social enterprise, owned by our staff, a Real Living Wage employer and Investors in People Gold organisation. As a fully accredited member of the Belfast Business Promise, a Belfast City Council initiative, GLL remains committed to upholding its values through open dialogue with Trade Unions, robust support for staff, and a continuous investment in community-focused practices.
“There has been no ballot for industrial action, and we encourage the Unions to continue to engage with us moving forward.”