Unions in dispute with Council....again!

Plus, Natalie McNally rally in Lurgan Park this Saturday

Jan 24

Good morning folks, Micheal with you here. For the readers among you living in the ABC Council borough, do you remember when there was industrial action during the summer – do you remember that? For those of you suffering from a bout of amnesia, here is a photo to jog your memories…

Those were the days! Who would like to see them back? Of course, nobody does. Not the ratepayer, not the union worker, not the Council.

However, the unions and senior management are at loggerheads again and industrial action has been threatened. The unions say they have 'little trust or confidence in senior management' and accuse some councillors of 'attacking' members on social media, as they warn failure to enter conciliation will lead to 'balloting members for action'. Read the full story here.

Here’s to hoping there’s a resolution. Please be a resolution!

Natalie McNally

Meanwhile, the hunt for Natalie McNally’s killer goes on. The 32-year-old, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was beaten, strangled and stabbed in her home at Silverwood Green, a week before Christmas.

Despite extensive appeals by her family and police, her killer had not yet been found.

This Saturday, a rally is being held at Lurgan Park to call for an end to violence against women and remember Natalie and her baby, Dean. The rally will start at 2pm and as many people as possible are urged to go along and show their support. Rally-goers are being urged to wear blue and pink for Natalie and baby Dean.

Headlines

Call for speedy bridge repairs in South Armagh amid road safety concerns

Tandragee company to create 15 new jobs with expansion plans

New £2m lab for testing construction materials opens in Portadown

Armagh teenager who handed stolen goods from city burglary given probation

Leah O’Rourke talks Derry Girls, growing up in Newry and Dancing with the Stars Ireland

Man threatened to burn mother of his child out of home before lighting fire yards from oil tank

Man extradited from USA appears in Armagh court on drugs charges

Latest attack on Altnaveigh Orange Hall ‘extremely depressing’

Newry Parish in ‘considerable deficit’ as it defends new wedding and funeral charges

Armagh woman who appeared on First Dates Ireland reveals how mum tried to set her up at wake

Ciara Rath appeared on RTE’s First Dates Ireland on Thursday evening.

Teens in Portadown ‘creating havoc’ with reports of criminal damage and assault on staff

Suspect confirms he appears on CCTV footage but ’emphatically denies’ Shane Whitla murder

Drink driver crashes car before setting it on fire in Armagh

Armagh Jobs

Killeen Hardware is looking for an enthusiastic and helpful counter assistant. Preferably someone who has experience in a hardware store or builders merchants, DIY, or one of the trades. The applicant must be hard working, have basic maths skills, and be keenly interested in hardware and building.

Are you an Early Years Practitioner? Then Tiny’s Day Nursery and Pre-School are looking for you! With a starting wage of €13 an hour (& a constant supply of biscuits and treats on your tea break), you will be part of a team that love keeping the environment interactive for the children with weekly planning. Check out this role here

Avolon Blinds are seeking to hire an enthusiastic new Blind Assembler to help further contribute to the growth and success of the business. This is a full-time permanent role in blind manufacturing.

Neil Collins has been announced as the new Managing Director of Bassetts, Northern Ireland’s largest plumbing and heating merchants. With a strong engineering background and vast experience in leading prominent businesses, the County Down man is no stranger to the plumbing and heating world, having previously been MD for Northern Ireland at Dimplex before becoming Manufacturing Director for Dimplex Group’s Heating and Ventilation Division.

Visit Armagh Jobs

Ticket Giveaway

Remember you can enter our weekly giveaway of a pair of cinema tickets courtesy of our friends at Omniplex cinemas. It’s easy to enter simply click here. Winners are announced every Friday in our newsletter.

What’s on

If you have a young reader who loves Lego then your local library has a club for them! Why not pop along to one of the Lego clubs with Libraries NI

Armagh City Library - last Saturday of every month 2pm - 4pm, Banbridge Library - once a month - please contact them for more information. Portadown Library - Saturdays 11am - 12noon, Richhill Library once a month, please contact directly for more information. Also at Keady, Dromore, Lurgan and Tandragee. Check out Libraries NI for full details.

Recreating the persona of Freddie with pinpoint accuracy, brilliant vocals and a commanding stage presence, promising an incredible night of all the greatest hits, including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Under Pressure’! Experience the hits from the greatest band in the world, as this brilliant show takes you on a journey through all the Queen classics! Book tickets here