Strike to affect child payments

Civil servants have been in dispute with management since last year

The Child Support Agency is the latest government department to be hit by a long running civil service strike over pay.

More than 60 members of the public service union NIPSA are taking industrial action at the CSA in Belfast from Monday.

Thousands of civil servants have taken part in a series of strikes since late last year over being denied a "cost of living" pay increase from April 2003.

The union has warned of "widespread disruption" to CSA operations.

However, the Department for Social Development said it would be implementing contingency plans to minimise the effects.

The department expressed "frustration" at the action.

A spokesman said: "The department has already expressed its concern at Nipsa's decision to target the Child Support Agency.

"We are disappointed that a vulnerable section of the community is again being hit by this industrial action.

"I would like to reassure people that we will maintain as full a service as possible during this period."

The government has imposed a pay package which will add 3.67% to the wage bill of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

However, union officials say that was part of a pre-agreed increment and takes no account of the rise in the cost of living.