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A strike by workers at a Northern Irish builders merchant has ended after the company, Haldane Fisher in Newry, and the Unite union agreed terms.
According to the BBC, around 40 staff at the Carnbane premises had been on strike for the past five weeks.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Haldane Fisher said that the deal, which included “changes to working practices”, had been reached against a backdrop of “significant cost pressures” and cited rising National Insurance contributions and higher energy bills. The statement said that the changes would assist with “modernising and future proofing the site” and “building a fully flexible, multi-skilled team”.
The firm also pointed out that its Newry premises remained open and serving customers throughout the five-week dispute.
“Reaching a resolution that rewards our colleagues fairly while securing the changes we need to operate efficiently is the right outcome for everyone,” the firm said.
