Council services will be disrupted for two weeks as Unite the Union announces strike action.
Belfast City Council is warning residents that there will be disruption to some council services from Monday, April 25 to Sunday, May 8.
Unite has said that the decision to take strike action has been made due to the "failure of employers to provide an improved pay offer to workers." It has said workers have been offered a 1.75% pay increase and that the current rate of inflation impacting employees living standards is 9%.
Read more: Translink bus strikes suspended after new pay offer
The regional strike is likely to impact waste collection and street cleansing routes, along with other frontline services and council venues.
The council has said that the majority of services are expected to operate as normal or with minimal disruption and that it is working to minimise the impact on residents and businesses.
All burial, cremation and death registration services will continue to operate as normal.
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: "The regional strike action, which is planned across all Northern Ireland council areas and other public sector organisations, is in relation to 21/22 nationally agreed pay award. The pay and terms and conditions of employment of all UK local government workers, including Belfast City Council employees are determined by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC) at national level. There is no national dispute.
"It is unlawful for employment agencies to supply labour to employers specifically for the purposes of covering work normally carried out by employees who are taking part in lawful industrial action.
"Residents are advised to keep up to date on the latest info via our social media channels and website – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/strike."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham offered her union’s support to the workers taking further strike action in Northern Ireland saying: “The offer of 1.75 percent is completely unacceptable – it’s a huge wage cut. All workers have a right to expect pay to keep pace with inflationary pressures and it’s appalling that public sector workers face a choice of heating or eating.
“Workers out on pickets in Northern Ireland are demonstrating their determination to secure real improvements. They have my complete support and that of everyone in Unite.”
Regional Officer for Unite, Gareth Scott laid the blame for the continued strike action at the feet of employers: “These workers took a powerful first week of strike action only a matter of weeks ago. They also gathered in large numbers at Stormont to highlight their determination to defend themselves from the cost of living crisis.
“These employers need to address the pay expectations of their workforce. Their failure to do so to date has led to this escalation and the unnecessary disruption that will inevitably result.”
Read more: Northern Ireland schools and other public services facing strike disruption after Easter
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