'The action is being forced by a derisory and insulting pay offer from the Department of Finance'
Thousands of Northern Ireland civil servants are to be balloted for industrial action, it was announced today.
The staff work across the range of Stormont departments and are being balloted as a reaction to a “derisory” pay offer from the Department of Finance.It is understood all-out strike action is an option being considered by the unions. “The ballot opens today 9 February and closes on 2 March and all unions expect a significant YES vote for action. Industrial action is likely to commence in mid-March. The serious nature of this situation is reflected in the decision by the trade unions to coordinate their action for the first time. They will also coordinate action with other public and private sector workers taking similar action over pay..
“Two-thirds of our members earn below the UK median wage and many rely on benefits to try to make ends meet. It is entirely unacceptable to treat workers who were classed as essential workers during the pandemic in this way. MPs gave themselves a £2,212 pay rise while our members are being offered £552 which is a quarter of that.”
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