TSSA supervisors win Translink concessions over strike ahead of the Open

TSSA members working in Supervisor Grades (including railway controllers) at Translink have accepted an offer of a pay rise which removes the immediate threat of strike action for this group of workers ahead of the Open Championships at Portrush 

Members in Supervisor Grades had been due to walkout over pay on Friday 18th July and Saturday 19th July before the company came back today with an offer of a pay rise which averages at around 7 per cent. The offer is contingent on this group of TSSA members agreeing to pause their planned industrial action (strike and action short of a strike).  

However, this does not end the dispute – with full agreement yet to be finalised. Nor does it end the threat to the services next weekend – with two other groups of workers - Clerical staff as well as Management, Professional & Technical Grades (MPT) - still due to walk out. 

The union is in no doubt that should those strikes go ahead they will have a significant impact on the ability of people to use trains and buses during the period of the planned walkouts.  

TSSA is now calling on Translink to meet them at the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) with acceptable offers for members in Clerical staff as well as Management, Professional & Technical Grades (MPT). 

The remaining industrial action is due to commence for Northern Ireland Railways from 00:01 on Friday 18th July 2025 until 23:59 on Saturday 19th July 2025  

In Ulsterbus - the strike action will take place from 00:01 on Friday 18th July 2025 until 23:59 on Saturday 19th July 2025.   

TSSA members at Northern Ireland Railways and Ulsterbus (operating as Translink) strongly backed the industrial action in a dispute mainly over pay.   

Commenting, Maryam Eslamdoust, General Secretary, TSSA said: “We are pleased that Translink have seen sense and made a fair and just offer to our members across Supervisor Grades.  

“However, this only pauses the planned strike action for those members. The company has made an offer to one group of workers, they must do the same for the others at the heart of this dispute or face the impact of walkouts.  

“Our Clerical and MPT members are still resolved to take action. All we are asking for is a reasonable deal which has been offered to other staff in Translink. We do not strike lightly and would be happy to meet Translink at the LRA as soon as possible to make further progress.”       

TSSA represents Clerical, Administrative, Supervisory and Managerial staff in Ulsterbus and NI Railways, as well as Technical staff in NI Railways.      

Translink is the trading name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), a public corporation that provides the public transport in the region.      

 TSSA is an independent trade union for the transport and travel industries. We have thousands of members right across the UK and Ireland, working for the railways and associated companies, as well as ferries, bus services and the travel trade.