Further disruption is expected to council services in many parts of Northern Ireland this week due to continued strike action by the Unite union in a dispute over pay.
Unite members in most councils and the Housing Executive started a walk-out last Monday while the union's members in the Education Authority (EA) followed suit on Tuesday.
They are striking after rejecting a 1.75% pay increase amid soaring inflation.
Read more: Unite strike: NI schools to face further disruption next week
Some council services have been affected as a result including bin collections, street cleaning and the operation of some venues.
Belfast City Council has confirmed that some of its playparks are closed until Monday, May 9 due to the ongoing strike action across NI.
Ormeau Recycling Centre is also closed, but other recycling centres and amenity sites remain open.
Some other council venues and services may also be closed at various times including City Hall, Belfast Zoo, community centres, play centres, pitches, bowling greens, parks and public toilets and services including pest control, noise control and dog wardens.
All burial and cremation services will operate as normal.
Death registrations will take place as normal while short appointments can still be made online for the collection of schedules.
A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said while it "fully respects the right of staff to take industrial action", disruption is continuing.
"As a result of the strike action Council is experiencing considerable disruption to a number of services such as refuse collection, street cleansing, recycling centres and a number of other services.
"The level of impact is variable across all services and is subject to change as the week progresses," the spokesperson said:
The local authority has provided updated details of affected services.
But Ards and North Down Council confirmed on Friday that strike action there, which was proposed to run from Tuesday May 3 to May 15, has been suspended.
On Sunday, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said staff who had been due to strike this week had also agreed to “suspend” their action, adding: “Our services will therefore run as normal from Tuesday, and we will continue to engage with our union colleagues.”
But as Unite members in other councils, education and housing across Northern Ireland prepare for a second week of action beyond the Bank Holiday, the union has hit out at the “misinformation from the employers”.
Several councils and council officials have claimed in recent days that they do not have the authority to come to an arrangement with Unite.
Last week, the chief executive of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council said that since “the pay award is agreed and negotiated nationally” there was nothing for the council to negotiate.
Other councils have adopted a similar approach to the strikes.
Unite, however, insist there is room for manoeuvre for a breakthrough that could end the strike.
A spokesperson for the union said: “The employers can develop local formulas that would allow an offer above the present 1.75 percent, which is way below the current real rate of inflation (RPI) of nine per cent.
“Most other pay and conditions — such as overtime and public holidays — can be set locally giving scope for councils to move.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Nobody wants to hear about what the NCJ can’t do – what we do need to hear about is how they will use the powers that they do have to deliver fair pay.
“An offer of 1.75 percent is not a pay increase - it’s a pay cut and is plainly unacceptable to this union. Unite members need to see a genuine improvement to their pay and conditions. These employers can and must now deliver that.”
Full timetable for strike action:
- 25 April-1 May and 3 May-8 May: Unite members in the NI Housing Executive; nine councils (Antrim and Newtownabbey; Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon; Causeway Coast & Glens; Mid & East Antrim; Belfast City; Derry City & Strabane; Fermanagh & Omagh; Lisburn & Castlereagh; and Mid-Ulster); and three further education colleges (North West Regional College; Belfast Metropolitan College; South Eastern Regional College)
- 26 April-1 May and 3 May-8 May: Unite members at the Education Authority
- 6 May: Unite members at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Read more: NI council services and schools face two weeks of disruption
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