Northern Ireland

Nipsa members strike over pay claim

Nipsa members striking in Belfast yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell
Nipsa members striking in Belfast yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell Nipsa members striking in Belfast yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell

THOUSANDS of civil servants went on strike yesterday in protest at a pay deal.

Members of the Nipsa trade union held pickets at dozens of workplaces including hospitals, MOT centres and court houses.

Around 15,000 workers were called out on strike amid complaints that changes to their conditions of employment had been implemented "without proper and meaningful consultation".

They are also unhappy about a below-inflation pay increase of 1.25 per cent for 2018/19.

Nipsa's general secretary, Alison Millar, said the pay deal must be renegotiated.

"Our members have clearly demonstrated their anger and are resolute in seeking to ensure that the employer re-opens the pay negotiations for 2018/19 and properly negotiates with Nipsa on both the issue of pay and other terms and conditions," she said.

Ms Millar said the union had taken the "unprecedented decision" to lodge a judicial review on November 29 over promotion opportunities within the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

She said Nipsa members had stopped taking part in emergency Brexit planning amid the pay dispute.

"This dispute can be resolved – however it will take a significant move from the NICS Board to do so," she said.

The union is to enter into negotiations for 2019/20 civil service pay within the next week. It wants an above-inflation pay increase, pay restitution dating back to 2010 and a shortening of pay scales.

Union officials will meet in the next week to discuss whether it will hold further industrial action.