Benefits offices across NI hit by half-day strike

Social security offices throughout Northern Ireland closed today as 2,300 staff took strike action over proposals to increase opening hours.

The half-day strike that began at lunchtime Wednesday, October 2, along with an overtime ban due to start tomorrow, have been staged to protest over a Social Security Agency (SSA) proposal to increase public office opening hours by 60 minutes per day. Under the plan, social security offices would close at 4.30pm.

The main union concerned, the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA), said the action was necessary for the "inflexible" manner in which managers had approached problems regarding the extra demands being made of employees.

The SSA, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Social Development, today called on NIPSA to provide "proper leadership for its members" by ending their industrial action and resuming full services to social security benefit customers.

A spokesman for the agency said: “The Social Security Agency is committed to a programme of improving public services. NIPSA cannot be allowed to put false obstacles in the way of better services."

The SSA defended their decision to increase office hours, saying that the move would not require employees to put in more hours than they work already, adding that offices have been operating 4.30pm opening since September 2 and, according to the agency, there has been "no adverse effect upon staff reported". Currently, the ‘conditioned hours’ for staff are 9am to 5.05pm.

The SSA also argue that government offices in Great Britain that administer social security benefits have already moved to a 4.30pm opening without any negative reaction from staff.

The spokesman added: "They are not having their terms and conditions changed. Staff have always been required to work normal office hours. It is disappointing that NIPSA has decided to advise their members towards this inappropriate action. Social security customers are entitled to a service at least comparable to the services received from other public sector organisations."

The SSA said that the issue of extending public office hours has been the subject of consultation for the last 15 months. In that time, say the agency, NIPSA has "not raised one legitimate objection to the Social Security Agency improving customer services this way".

The agency said that it would be prepared to sit down with NIPSA representatives but only on the pre-condition that the industrial action is called off.

However, there appears to be little room for manoeuvre for representatives at round table talks if, as the SSA has stated, there can be no reversion to the 3.30pm closing time – which is the core reason for the action.

(GMcG)