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Published 30 November 2011 @ 15:50

Today’s industrial action by trade unions regarding reform of public sector pensions has had a variable impact on Northern Irelands twenty six district councils with some experiencing little or no impact, whilst others have seen services significantly curtailed.

Speaking today, Councillor Jimmy Spratt MLA (Chairman of the Employers Side of the Northern Ireland Joint Council for Local Government Services) said:

“It is deeply regrettable that vital public services have been impacted by this industrial action. I call on the trade unions, and the government, to re-double their efforts to resolve this dispute by dialogue rather than seeing public services which so many people rely on being reduced or halted”.

ENDS

Notes:

(a)  Northern Irelands 26 district councils employ some 11,000 people

(b)  The main trade unions taking industrial action in local government in Northern Ireland today are GMB, NIPSA and Unite the Union

(c)  The dispute centres on UK government plans to reform public sector pensions to ensure that they are fair and affordable in the longer term. No reform proposals have been made by the Department of the Environment to date in respect of the local government pension scheme in Northern Ireland.