NIHE maintenance workers accept pay offer after months of strike action

In January, the NIHE offered a one-off cost of living payment of £1,000 for those earning up to £32,000 and £500 for all other staff.

But workers, who have been on strike over their pay offer since September, voted overwhelmingly against accepting the offer. 

The workers include electricians, plumbers and joiners who are employed in North and West Belfast, Portadown, Coleraine, and Derry.

At the time, Unite urged the NIHE to give a “decent” offer, adding that more than 4,400 repair and maintenance jobs judged to be ‘emergency’ have been left undone and a further 9,600 works deemed routine have not been completed. 

More than 240 adaption jobs needed by disabled tenants were also outstanding.

Ms Long said: “We’re pleased that NIPSA and Unite trades unions have accepted our revised pay offer. 

“This also now brings an end to Unite’s industrial action and allows us to recommence a number of critical services, in the interests of our tenants and customers. 

“We have continuously and proactively engaged with trade unions over recent months in an attempt to find a resolution to both the joint local pay claim and Unite’s industrial action.   

“We provided an amended and improved offer, which includes a cost of living payment of £1,600 for all staff.

“Our lowest-paid staff, who are impacted the most by the increased cost of living, will receive an additional £400.

“We’ve been able to offer these terms following confirmation of the 2022-23 budget and our end-of-year financial year spend.”