Civil servants in new action

Nipsa has been involved in strike action since December

More than 100 civil servants in Londonderry have staged a second unofficial walk-out in protest at the suspension of about 30 colleagues.

Twenty-eight people were suspended for refusing to carry out duties, which, they said, were not their responsibility.

Members of the public service union Nipsa staged a walk-out at Waterside House in the city, the Department of Education Teachers' Pay and Pensions Branch, on Monday.

Staff returned to work on Tuesday but left their desks again when they learned that at least two other colleagues had received suspension letters.

Assistant Secretary of Nipsa Tony McMullan said management had been warned about the action.

Assistant Secretary of the NIPSA Union Tony McMullan said it was "incredible" and urged management to realise the "seriousness of their actions" and "pull back from the brink".

He said the suspended workers were not actually part of the selective action, and had been working normally in accordance with their contract.

"I think any reasonable person will find that incredulous."

Earlier, Seamus Gallagher of Nipsa said staff were "disgusted" at the initial 28 suspensions.

'Not appropriate'

"These particular people are responsible for paying the permanent teachers," he said. "Because management have made such a mess over paying temporary teachers this last two months, they wanted all staff to work on fixing it.

"Staff felt it was not appropriate to be interfering in that area of work."

Finance Minister Ian Pearson has sent a letter to assembly members outlining his position on the Nipsa strike.

Mr Pearson said he regretted the industrial action, which was hitting some of the "most vulnerable groups" in society.

Nipsa has been involved in strike action since December over what they said was the government's refusal to give civil service staff any cost of living increases in rates of pay since April last year.

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.

Mr Pearson has described the pay award as "fair and reasonable".

Meanwhile, SDLP leader Mark Durkan claimed senior civil servants were exploiting the strike by the Nipsa workers in Londonderry to stop public sector jobs going to the city.

He said the strike was being used to promote an "anti north-west agenda".