VITAL NORTH BELFAST COMMUNITY TRANSPORT IN DANGER OF CLOSURE

Six Jobs and Services to Over 300 Local Groups Under Threat Amidst Union Complaints of Mismanagement

North Belfast Community Transport (NBCT), which services over 300 groups and organisations across north Belfast, is in danger of facing closure amidst union complaints of mismanagement. NBCT provides affordable transport to disabled groups, the elderly, children, schools and other vulnerable groups across north Belfast. The closure will leave many groups unable to access transport services due to high costs from private transport providers.

Founded in 2006, the NBCT was a joint initiative between community organisations across north Belfast and was funded through the North Belfast Partnership Board’s EU Urban grant. However, since March 2008 drivers have been effectively functioning without a line manager and have had to pool resources to ensure the community can access this service.

Today all six remaining workers, with their trade union UNISON, have submitted a litany of complaints which include allegations regarding: lack of management, breach of health and safety guidelines, with-holding of wages, and trade union victimisation. Indeed last week the internet service for the drivers – which is the main source of securing bookings with service users - was shut down by providers due to bills not being paid.

Paul Fitzsimmons, UNISON shop steward for the drivers said:

“While obviously we don’t want to comment on the individual complaints, the situation faced by the workers is intolerable. Our January payments were seriously delayed causing members of staff to incur debts. We are still owed money. We have now been told that if we want paid for March we have to go out and make the money ourselves. We find this incredibly insulting as the drivers at NBCT have kept this service afloat for the last year without line management.”

“We are concerned for our jobs as we all have families to support and bills to pay – especially in the current economic climate. But as importantly we know that if this service goes under then many of the groups across north Belfast will not be able to access a similar service due to the rising costs of private transport. We are committed to serving the needs of groups across north Belfast.”

“It is clear that the work is out there, but unless urgent action is taken by community stakeholders, then this important initiative will fail. As it stands currently, we don’t know where the future for the service lies, and any attempt to resolve these issues with management has run up against a brick wall.”

Dessie Donnelly, UNISON representative, added:

“Our members have kept NBCT running for the last year with minimal to no assistance from management. They deserve to be shown gratitude and thanks for operating in such an environment – not treated with outright disrespect and kept in the dark.”

“Management needs to take its ‘head out of the sand’ and start dealing with this – by looking for ways to ensure this service is maintained. UNISON members have submitted grievances and we expect them to be dealt with as required by law.”

“We know that this is a valuable and utterly viable service which, if operated properly, would continue to grow and serve the north Belfast community. For this to become a reality, we need community groups and politicians in north Belfast to support the members and intervene to ensure this service does not fold.”

STATEMENT ENDS.