Nuacht na nOibrithe

BY Justin Moran

NIPSA Executive calls for all out strike action

Members of the Six Counties' Public Sector union, NIPSA, are being balloted on a proposal from the union's executive for all out indefinite strike action from the end of the month. This follows union objections to a derisory 0.2% pay increase for the majority of civil servants from August 2005 proposed by Direct Ruler Peter Hain.

Speaking at a protest in Belfast NIPSA General Secretary John Corey said: "Civil Service employees have suffered what amounts to a pay cut in real terms of 7.19% over the last three years. Now the Secretary of State is trying to impose a pay settlement of 0.2% for this year — or just 50p a week cost of living increase for many of our members.

"Civil Servants are very angry. They are likely to vote in large numbers to take strike action. If the Secretary of State and Civil Service Management do not accept the need to return immediately to serious pay negotiations I fear we are in for a major dispute and disruption of public services."

Balloting ends on 30 January and in the intervening period NIPSA is organising 15 meetings across the Six Counties to inform members of the issue around the dispute and encourage a YES vote in the ballot. A full list of the dates and venues can be found on the NIPSA website at www.nipsa.org.uk .

Sinn Féin North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan has called on Peter Hain to engage both positively and immediately with the trade union representatives. "Mr Hain has a responsibility to ensure that the mistakes made by his predecessors are not repeated with regard to solving pay disputes with the civil service," said McGuigan.

"The cavalier attitude of Mr Hain and his imposition of a pay offer is only going to lead to confrontation. Civil service staff should be entitled to a fair pay increase."

Opposing the Services Directive

Sinn Féin Councillors John Dwyer and Daithí Doolan are leading a joint Sinn Féin and trade union delegation to a conference in Brussels this week on the proposed EU Services Directive organised by GUE/NGL, Sinn Féin's affiliate group in the EU Parliament.

The Sinn Féin delegation will be joined by Irish trade unionists from UNISON, SIPTU and the Independent Workers' Union for one of the major mobilisations against this controversial Directive due to be voted on in the EU Parliament next month.

Separately, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh will address a conference on the Directive organised by SIPTU this Friday.