Gritter drivers in North to go on seven day strike from this Thursday
The strikes comes as the North is in the grip of very cold weather, with a snow warning from the Met Office for the middle of the week.
The action by Unite the Union and GMB members will start at one minute past midnight on Thursday.
The Met Office has said several centimetres of snow may be on the cards from Wednesday and into Thursday.
Several hundred Roads Service workers are expected to take part in the strike action.
The Department for Infrastructure said that “if the current weather warnings remain in place, we would advise people to avoid travel, if possible, on Thursday”.
“We will not know the precise number of staff available until the days of strike action which means it could be Thursday morning before the full impact will be known and understood,” a spokesperson said.
“The department will, however, only be able to deliver a fraction of its normal gritting service.”
It added that while contingency plans are being put in place “it is expected that there will be widespread disruption”.
Alan Perry from the GMB union, which represents some of them, said the strike showed the depth of feeling of his members.
Speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme, Mr Perry said: “Their dispute isn’t on pay, it’s also in relation to a productivity bonus which we believe was completely outdated and wrong and therefore then there’s two elements to the strike, hence why our members are out for a week.
“I’ve no doubt if a request comes in from the Department for Infrastructure in relation to a derogation we are duty bound to consider that derogation.
“There’s no guarantee that our members would grant it, but certainly if there is some sort of an emergency or anything like that then obviously we would consider it, but ultimately the decision would lie with our members.”
Sharon Graham, Unite the Union’s general secretary, added: “The funding for a pay increase for public sector workers is available but it is being cynically withheld by the Secretary of State.
“He must immediately release this money – it is disgraceful that it is being withheld for use as political leverage.”
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