Unite union strike: school buses, meals and staffing to face disruption

By Q Radio News

The Education Authority (EA) is warning a week-long strike from today will disrupt school transport, meals, staffing and council bin collections.

More than 2,000 members of the Unite union are downing tools in a dispute over pay.

The EA has also said about 300 of its school bus routes are expected to face disruption.

Special schools are likely to be affected, with at least one saying it cannot provide in-school teaching.

School buses, meals, staffing and council bin collections among things going to be affected by the week-long Unite union strike starting today.https://t.co/MNUHlME1MV

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) March 21, 2022

Translink services, private hire bus and taxis will not be directly affected, but a number of EA "yellow buses" to schools will be.

Some "yellow bus" routes in County Antrim, including areas like Lisburn and Antrim town, and County Down, including the Ards peninsula. will face disruption.

A number of special school bus routes in Belfast will also be disrupted, as well as transport to primary and post-primary schools in areas of County Fermanagh including Enniskillen and Lisnaskea.

The EA has said it is "working hard to minimise disruption, however, there is extremely limited capacity to provide cover and so parents, particularly in these areas, are therefore advised to have alternative transport arrangements in place for these dates."

It added: "We are working closely with schools and have asked them to notify parents where possible if transport routes will be disrupted through their school messaging service."

Some classroom assistants in special schools who are members of Unite may also be on strike.

If meals are not available, the EA has said it will deliver packed lunches to pupils entitled to free school meals, but has asked other pupils to bring in packed lunches if possible.

Unite is one of the largest public sector unions.

It organised the strike in response to a local government pay offer of 1.75%, which it says is a "real terms pay cut" due to a surge in the cost of living.

The EA, unite members in councils and the Housing Executive have expressed overwhelming support for the industrial action, the union says.

Unite members will be holding a number of pickets across Northern Ireland on Monday.