Civil Servants stage one-day strike over pay

Thousands of civil servants across Northern Ireland were today staging a one day strike over pay.

Up to 20,000 civil and public servants from Government Departments across the province are protesting at what they see as low rates of pay.

The move follows a vote last month for industrial action by members of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA), the province’s largest trade union. The dispute centres on a row over the pay increase due to be paid to staff from 1 April 2003.

NIPSA said it was seeking "cost of living" increases on civil service pay rates on a similar basis to all other public servants in Northern Ireland.

However, Enterprise Minister, Ian Pearson said their was no money available to give the strikers what they wanted.

"Any administration needs to strike an appropriate balance between what is required for recruitment retention, and what is required to actually improve service delivery," he said. "We want to make sure that our staff are paid reasonably but we have got to have the money there to improve public services as well."

Commenting on the strike NIPSA’s General Secretary John Corey said:“We regret the disruption to public services but we ask the public to recognize that these staff are going on strike only as a very last resort. Civil Service Management and Ministers have left us no alternative."

Mr Corey also warned there would be further industrial action if the dispute was not resolved.

The Social Security Agency today set up an emergency telephone number for customers affected by one-day strike called by NIPSA.

The number is 028 90 569552 and will operate from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Thursday.

(MB)