Around 300 maintenance workers at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) have begun strike action in a dispute over pay.
It is understood that the strike could affect NIHE maintenance services in Craigavon, Coleraine and north and west Belfast.
The Unite trade union said the dispute would remain in place for four weeks.
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Unite said the strike has been called after management failed to make any offer whatsoever to improve pay and meet the pay claim of Unite members.
Workers’ demands include a cash payment alongside a consolidated two pay point increase above the (National Joint Council) national pay offer for 2021-22, which is a 1.75%.
Workers at the Housing Executive previously engaged in two strikes earlier in the year.
The Housing Executive said it hopes to minimise disruption to its tenants during the industrial action, adding that emergency repairs would be carried out.
Regional officer for Unite, Michael Keenan, said its members are "among the most vulnerable in society".
"These people are desperate, this is why they're taking this action" he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme on Monday.
"Our members are among the lowest paid in Northern Ireland - they're visiting food banks, they just can't afford to work and that's why they've been forced into taking action."
Mr Keenan said the blame for the strike "rests entirely with the Housing Executive".
"Everybody understands that inflation is biting into people's wages and people can't afford to heat their homes or buy food - understanding that doesn't put food on the table," he added.
A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said; “Unite has notified us of further planned industrial action from 5 September to 3 October. This is part of an on-going series of strikes by Unite relating to the 2021/22 pay award.
“Based on previous strikes, we envisage the strike action will directly impact our response maintenance services in three areas: Craigavon, Coleraine and north and west Belfast.
“During this period, we will carry out emergency only repairs within these areas. We will contact tenants directly about postponements of scheduled repair works and tenants can continue to report repairs as normal through our usual channels.
“We’ll also monitor the impact on tenants on a daily basis as the strike action continues.
“Our pay is subject to national collective bargaining arrangements. The pay award of 2021/22 for all Housing Executive staff was collectively agreed at a national level and the pay increases have already been implemented.
“In addition to the national pay negotiations, a local claim was submitted by NIPSA and Unite in June and these discussions are on-going.”
They added: “We understand the impact of the rise in the cost of living and how it is affecting our colleagues. This is being considered at present through the 2022/23 national pay negotiations.
”A national pay offer was made on 25 July which includes £1,925 for all employees (providing higher pay increases (10.5%) for the lowest paid employees).
”We await the outcome of the national consultations on this offer and we will implement any agreement reached as quickly as possible.”
The latest strike comes as industrial action which had been affecting bin collections in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area continues.
The strike began on August 15 and it involves more than 1,000 council workers who are protesting over their pay and conditions.
It is being staged by members of the GMB, Unite and Nipsa trade unions. The action was initially due to last for four weeks but last week council said it will now continue past September 11.
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