Planned bus service strikes are set to go ahead starting from Monday, April 25, with no breakthrough between trade unions and Translink.
The strikes will run for the full week, concluding on Sunday May 1, over a pay dispute between drivers and the company.
The industrial action means commuters will have no Ulsterbus or Metro services for the full week.
Read more: Key dates in shut down of Translink bus services across NI due to strike action
Davy Thompson from Unite the Union said that there had been "no further request for a meeting from the company, so the planned strike action will go ahead".
There will be an additional day of strike action on Friday, May 6, to mark the Stormont Assembly election count starting.
The dispute centres on a pay increase offer, with Translink offering a 3% raise and workers requesting 6% for drivers, cleaners and shunters, to help them with inflation and rising living costs.
A spokesperson for Translink: “We continue to work with the unions to try to resolve this unprecedented strike action and its potential impact on essential bus services, affecting local school children and the wider community.
“While we continue to discuss the issues with our unions, we would advise passengers to start making alternative travel arrangements for next week including parents and carers of children that normally travel on any Translink bus service to and from school.
“Full refunds will be processed for online bookings for bus services impacted between Monday, April 25 and Sunday, May 1.
"We will continue to try to avert this action and have ongoing talks with the Trade Unions. We will keep passengers advised as the situation develops”.
Unite the Union will have around 1300-1400 members involved in the strike action, while the GMB union will see about 500 of its members participating.
The following strike timetable has been planned by Unite:
- Education Authority April 26 to May 1 and May 3 to May 8
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Mid-Ulster District Council, North West Regional College, Belfast Metropolitan College, South Eastern Regional College April 25 to May 1 and May 3 to May 8;
- Newry, Mourne & Down District Council May 6;
- Ards & North Down Borough Council May 3 to May 15;
- NI Housing Executive April 25 to May 5 and May 3 to May 8;
- St Columb’s and Lumen Christi College April 26 to May 1 and May 3 to May 8.
The GMB union has previously said a solution can be found but only when Translink "recognise our members deserve a pay increase that addresses the increased pressures caused by the cost of living crisis".
Train services will not be affected by the strike action and will continue to operate as normal.
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