Suspensions intensify NI civil service pay dispute

A pay dispute which has plunged Northern Ireland’s civil service into disarray intensified tonight after Jobcentre staff were suspended without pay.

Workers at a benefits office in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, involved in the strike action were sent home for allegedly refusing to answer telephones.

With social security and tribunal offices due to shut down tomorrow, the suspensions threatened new talks to end an increasingly bitter stand-off involving up to 20,000 civil servants.

John Corey, general secretary of public service union NIPSA, which has been driving the wage demands, hit out at Department of Employment and Learning chiefs for punishing staff.

He said: “It is disgraceful that the government department responsible for industrial relations in Northern Ireland are now suspending staff for taking legitimate industrial action to secure a fair pay increase.

“Their action is also hypocritical. It is now government departments that will be denying the public the facility to apply for benefits.”

NIPSA has already called out thousands of workers across Northern Ireland on two days of mass strike action since the row flared last year.

Individual demonstrations have continued at vehicle licensing centres, social security branches and other offices in a bid to ratchet up pressure on the British government.

It is understood the six members of staff in Newtownabbey were warned over allegedly refusing to answer telephones.

With management claiming the service provided to the public had been hit, they took action today.

A DEL spokesman confirmed: “We have temporarily suspended without pay six of our staff based at the Newtownabbey jobs and benefits office.

“The suspension follow further industrial action by the staff concerned, leading to a disruption of business which was considered to be a breach of their terms of employment.”

He also warned that department chiefs were considering taking other steps to minimise the impact if any further illegal strike action occurs.

Among the measures open to management are possible withdrawals of flexi-hours and refusing annual leave.

The suspensions came ahead of industrial action tomorrow that is expected to force the closure of social security offices in Lurgan, Co Armagh, and Newry, Co Down.

The office of Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunals in Belfast are also due to shut down temporarily.

With vehicle licensing branches in Londonderry and Enniskillen already closed, along with a pensions centre in Derry, both sides have resumed negotiations to end the row.

Although he pledged to enter talks in good faith, Mr Corey saw little hope of an early breakthrough.

He added: “This dispute cannot be resolved without addressing the issue of a fair cost of living increase for members from April 2003.

“So far we have seen no evidence that the minister and the management side are prepared to accept that critical point in this dispute and therefore all industrial action will continue.”