A strike by NI Water workers that had been planned for this week won’t go ahead after union members voted to accept a pay offer.
The deal was for a 5% pay increase and a one-off payment of £1,500 for the 2023/24 fiscal year.
There were concerns that Northern Ireland could face widespread water disruption, potentially affecting thousands of homes, if water workers had gone ahead with planned industrial action.
The pay award was approved by Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd last week, and Unite and GMB members were subsequently balloted.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Thankfully sense has prevailed and the frontline workers who maintain the fresh water and waste water infrastructure have finally been given a pay increase all other civil servants have already received.
“Nonetheless it is shocking that it took planned strike action for ministers to authorise a long overdue pay award. The pay deal was only won through union strength and a willingness to take industrial action.”
Alan Perry, GMB senior organiser, said: “Our members remain some of the lowest paid within the sector, but this pay rise is welcome.
“It’s in line with what other public sector workers received – but the fact our members had to wait 20 months is not acceptable.”