Fresh action in pay dispute

More than a thousand workers turned out at Church House

Civil servants have taken part in rallies across Northern Ireland in a stepping up of their action over a pay claim.

Staff at tribunal offices walked out on Friday, causing the cancellation of all scheduled hearings.

Last month, thousands of civil servants took part in a one-day stoppage.

However, staff have now opted to take "selective" action which could result in widespread disruption of public services over the coming weeks.

In Belfast, more than a thousand workers turned out at Church House to show their support for industrial action on Friday.

The trade union NIPSA says it has requested serious negotiations to resolve the dispute.

NIPSA general secretary John Corey said staff had been left with no choice.

"The fact of the matter is that staff in Northern Ireland in the civil service have been treated very unfairly and the point that has to be remembered is that the government is not treating staff even handedly," he said.

Last month, workers held strike action throughout Northern Ireland

"The government awarded senior civil service increases of up to 9% from last April, it approved cost of living increases for all other public servants in Northern Ireland of over 3%, but yet for this group of staff they are being denied any cost of living increase."

However, the Finance Minister Ian Pearson said the civil servants were being treated fairly.

"One of the things that we need to do is try and free up money to improve services," he said.

"I think it is important that we recognise that 3.67% is a cost to government.

"If we were to pay more, then we would have to cut services."