Child Support Agency hit by strike action

The public service trade union NIPSA has warned of more industrial action by civil servants in Northern Ireland.

NIPSA confirmed today that over 60 staff from the Child Support Agency (CSA) Centre in Belfast will go on strike from Monday. This is expected to cause wide disruption to the CSA's operations.

NIPSA has also again accused the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of misleading the public and the agricultural industry about the dangers arising from the strike by inspection staff at Larne throughout this week.

As a result of the strike all the normal controls to protect the agricultural industry from the very real risks of animal diseases being imported into Northern Ireland have stopped.

After meeting the striking workers yesterday NIPSA's General Secretary, John Corey said: "Like all civil service staff in Northern Ireland the Portal Inspection staff are angry and digusted at the Ministers' and Senior Management's refusal to give any cost of living increase in pay. That is why we have seen 100% support for the strike this week."

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

The department expressed "frustration" at the action and said it had 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 department added.

(MB)