Civil servants in Northern Ireland are set to join workers across the public sector in a major pay strike next week.
NIPSA, the trade union representing Northern Ireland civil service staff, has issued strike notices to NICS employers and to Education Department and Health Department employers ahead of the January 18 strike.
The group has warned that the industrial action will coincide with strikes by other public sector unions and will be the “largest ever” strike action seen in Northern Ireland.
The union accused Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris of failing to provide the funding needed to address pay and funding issues in the public sector.
Mr Heaton-Harris is responsible for issuing Northern Ireland’s budget in the absence of the country’s executive, which became dysfunctional nearly two years ago. But Labor last year warned that the budget provided was not enough to cover the necessary spending, leaving departments to seek 10% cuts, with Northern Ireland set to receive £1 billion by November. This led to overspending.
In April, the Treasury implemented a pay adjustment of just £552 for most NICS staff, despite trade union opposition. According to NIPSA, fixed benefits are worth less than 1% for the majority of civil servants.
In December, the UK government proposed a £3.3bn financial package, including £584m for pay rises for civil servants and other public sector workers, to rebuild Stormont’s devolved management.
However, Northern Ireland’s political parties have not yet agreed to the proposal.
NIPSA general secretary Carmel Gates said Heaton-Harris had “pushed the promise of money in front of workers’ faces, while withholding the very funds they desperately needed.”
“He must respond to union demands for inflation-beating wage increases, secure staffing, and a needs-based budget to adequately fund public services now and in the future, and he must do so immediately. “There has to be,” she said.
“This unprecedented strike action, the largest in Northern Ireland’s history, will only be the beginning of chaos if these issues are not addressed.
“Public services are on their knees, so public servants will be on the picket line.”
The strike follows five days of action in November targeting ports, meat plants and veterinary services over pay agreements.
Trade unions called on the public to support strike action. In his statement, NIPSA deputy general secretary Patrick Mulholland called for a “campaign of public disobedience and resistance to the dismantling of public services”.
“The very fabric that binds our communities together is being torn apart by cuts, privatization and neglect. Unions have fought to protect our vital services, but we need people to stand up and speak out. , it’s time to do our part in the fight,” Mulholland said.
“Public disobedience is not reckless. It is an act of desperation in the face of a system that no longer listens to reason. If politicians don’t listen, we should listen to them. If they don’t take action, we have to take action on their behalf, and if they don’t take action, we have to make them do so. “We have to force them to do so,” he added.
“Things can’t stay this way. It’s time to fight for public services before we lose them forever. It’s time for our entire community to fight for adequate funding, safe staffing, and decent pay. Come.”