Skip to content

Leisure centre workers go on 24-hour strike

News imageBBC A group of people from Unite the Union on strike at the door of a leisure centre. They are wearing different coloured clothing and holding large red flags and a poster with the 'unite the union' and '£1000 would go a long way' written on them. There are chairs and one member if holding a speaker and blowing into a whistle. Someone is also holding a grey nipsa poster.BBC
Staff taking strike action at Grove Wellbeing Centre

Belfast leisure centre staff are taking part in a 24-hour strike over pay at facilities operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

Fourteen leisure centres and two gyms, including those in the Better Gym franchise, are owned by Belfast City Council, but operated by GLL.

The firm said it remains "engaged in constructive negotiations, with ongoing support from the Labour Relations Agency".

Unions said staff members are seeking a pay rise of £1 per hour in addition to the current offer, which they said would bring staff up to at least the living wage.

News imagePacemaker A young woman with long blonde hair holds a brown cardboard sign which says 'better pay now, fair pay to guard your day'. She is wearing a black t-shirt and a silver cross necklace. There are other men and women surrounding her holding red union flags. They are wearing red, blue, white and other coloured clothing.Pacemaker
The strike began at 00:01 BST on Tuesday and will continue until midnight

What will be affected?

The strike began at 00:01 BST on Tuesday and will continue until midnight.

GLL said all Better leisure centres and gyms will be open on Tuesday but "due to limited staff availability, some services may be temporarily affected and opening hours will be reduced".

Customers are being asked to check individual centre websites for opening hours and service availability.

Better operates at:

  • Andersonstown Leisure Centre
  • Avoniel
  • Ballysillan Leisure Centre
  • Belvoir Activity Centre
  • Better Gym Belfast
  • Connswater
  • Brook Leisure Centre
  • Falls Leisure Centre
  • Girdwood Community Hub
  • Grove Wellbeing Centre
  • Ozone Complex
  • Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre
  • Loughside Recreation Centre
  • Olympia Leisure Centre and Spa
  • Shankill Leisure Centre
  • Templemore Baths
  • Whiterock Leisure Centre

A spokesperson for GLL said if any activities or classes have been cancelled, customers will receive a notification.

News imageAFP via Getty Images Two schoolgirls in swimwear in a pool, using special swim devices learning to swim.AFP via Getty Images
Greenwich Leisure Limited said all centres will be open on Tuesday but "some services may be temporarily affected and opening hours will be reduced"

Why are unions going on strike?

General secretary for Unite Sharon Graham said it is "deeply unfair that Belfast leisure workers are the lowest paid leisure workers in Northern Ireland".

"Workers who perform the same tasks and have the same responsibilities are paid significantly less than they would be in neighbouring councils."

They described Belfast City Council's decision to outsource services to GLL as "disastrous, not just for workers who are underpaid and overstretched, but for the public who have endured hikes on charges".

News imagePatrick Mulholland is standing near a street with a number of parked cars and trees. He is wearing black glasses with a white shirt and purple tie.
Nipsa general secretary Patrick Mulholland says industrial action is regrettable but they will continue until they reach a "positive outcome"

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme on Tuesday, Nipsa general secretary Patrick Mulholland said workers are "frustrated and angry about how they have been treated over the years".

"We are saying step up to the mark, pay what you owe us, and let us get this settled," he said.

Mr Mulholland said it is regrettable that they have reached this point, but believes, both sides have entered into negotiations in "good faith".

"We would like to see them progress - and I am sure GLL would as well," he said.

"We would have preferred not to have had to reach this point, but we are here now and we are sending a very clear message.

"We will continue with industrial action until such time as we get a positive outcome to this dispute."

In response, GLL said negotiations are ongoing and disputed that its staff are the "lowest paid in Northern Ireland".

A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: "GLL manage and run leisure centres across the city on behalf of council. GLL is a social enterprise that reinvests all profits back into the centres and all operational matters, including those relating to pay, are under its remit.

"Council is committed to working with GLL and its employees on the continued provision of leisure services in the city."

Further discussions between GLL and the unions are scheduled for Thursday.