NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Servants across Northern Ireland have taken part in a strike over pay and working conditions.
The Department of Finance said its initial estimate was that 4,500 workers took part. More than 15,000 members of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) were balloted on the action with follows a similar strike in July last year.
Secretary of NIPSA, Alison Millar (pictured) said the industrial action sent a clear signal to the newly-formed Northern Ireland Executive that workers were “serious about getting the real pay rise they deserve”.
“It has been recognised by senior political representatives that Civil Servants have kept the country running during the three years there was no Government,” Ms Millar said.
“It is now time for hard-working Public Servants to receive the just outcome for this commitment over the preceding three years.”
She said Northern Ireland Public Servants had received below inflation pay increases or no pay increases for nine straight years.
“In addition, their anger has grown with the announcement our Parliamentarians will receive a £1,000 ($A1,924) increase in their pay with a further increase in April,” Ms Millar said.
Union representatives met Minister for Finance, Conor Murphy who told them he would press the United Kingdom Treasury for more money for Northern Ireland.
“He reiterated his desire to seek to resolve the dispute and would not drag his heels in seeking a resolution,” Ms Millar said.
The Northern Ireland Public Service is one of the Province’s largest employers with more than 23,000 permanent staff.
Belfast, 25 January 2019
