Strikes in the North…

WorldbyStorm

Nov 1

Major disruption is expected as hundreds of workers at ports and meat factories across Northern Ireland start a five-day walkout over pay.

The ports of Belfast, Larne and Warrenpoint as well as meat processing plants are being affected by the action, which started at midnight yesterday.

Members of the Nipsa union, who work across the Veterinary Service Animal Health Group in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera), are taking part in the strike, which is planned to run until Friday.

This is slightly entertaining, a complaint that:

The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) said the strike has come at the "worst possible time", in the lead-up to Christmas.

UFU deputy president John McClenahan said members understand the reason for the strike action, but feel it is "a bit unfair" for farmers, who, he said, will "pick up a substantial cost".

Nipsa said the action is in protest at a pay award of £552 - between 0.5% and 2% - given to all civil servants in Northern Ireland for 2022/23, at a time when inflation was above 10%.

General secretary Carmel Gates said public sector workers have seen their living standards crash.

And here's an interesting framing:

She told the BBC that Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has refused to engage with the union.

"The Northern Ireland economic sanctions have caused real suffering for ordinary working-class people," she said.

"Public sector workers have seen their living standards crash.

"There is now a hard 'pay border' between workers in Northern Ireland and workers across the Irish Sea.

That's some line to take. Does it completely work as intended? What do others think?

And how about an unexpected impact?

They are involved in checks on animals and some food products entering Northern Ireland from Britain.

Both green and red lanes at ports are expected to be affected, and it is anticipated that the strike may lead to ports either shutting down imports of some products or not carrying out checks required by the EU.