Belfast, 23 April 2026 – Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA), which represents over 80% of the Northern Ireland Civil Service workforce, is demanding urgent political action to deliver overdue pay awards for civil servants who are being pushed to breaking point by the continuing cost of living crisis.
With inflation now at 3.3%, the cost of fuel, energy, food and other essentials continues to rise, placing further pressure on workers whose pay has already failed to keep pace with living costs. Despite this, more than 25,000 civil servants across Northern Ireland have still not received the pay uplift due from 1 April 2026, leaving thousands of households falling further behind each month.
NIPSA members deliver essential public services relied upon by communities across Northern Ireland every day, including benefits administration, justice services, pensions, regulatory functions and departmental operations. Many of those affected are in lower and middle paid grades, where delays to pay have the most immediate and severe impact on living standards.
Carmel Gates, NIPSA General Secretary, said:
“NIPSA represents the vast majority of the Northern Ireland Civil Service workforce. This is not a marginal issue, it affects tens of thousands of workers and the services they deliver to the public every day.” “In our discussions with the NI Assembly Finance Minister, John O’Dowd, we were heartened to hear that the Department of Finance intends to prioritise the pay of civil service workers. However, for that commitment to be meaningful, the Executive must now act to ensure the money is available.” “Our members were due a pay uplift from 1 April. They are angry it has not been paid. They have shown restraint and patience, but that patience is now wearing very thin.” “I am deeply concerned that this delay has been driven by Westminster Treasury’s failure to provide funding at the level required to meet real and established need. At this point, either Treasury provides the necessary funding, or the NI Assembly must set a needs based budget and get on with its business.” “At a time when significant sums can be found for other priorities, it is increasingly difficult to justify why the workers who keep essential public services running are being asked to wait yet again.”NIPSA is calling for an immediate end to the uncertainty facing civil servants who continue to face unacceptable cost of living pressures while keeping public services functioning for the people of Northern Ireland.
“If the cost of living crisis facing our members is not addressed without further delay,” Carmel Gates added, “NIPSA will have no option but to take action.”
ENDS
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