As previously advised, the Civil Service Executive Committee met in June and agreed that if there was no progress on pay we should begin preparations for an escalation of our campaign in the Autumn.
Coordinated Industrial Action
It was agreed that we should liaise with other trade unions and consider coordinated action and the BSC advised that unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions would meet in September to agree action.
As a result of those discussions, the Civil Service Executive Committee has agreed that our members in the civil service and ALBs will join action with health workers and other civil service unions on Friday 22nd September.
The unions that will be taking action on the day alongside NIPSA in the civil service are GMB and Unite. In health, the unions taking action alongside NIPSA are Unison, GMB, RCM, Unite, SOR and CSP. Some of those unions are taking action for longer than one day.
Despite the fact that is still unclear if the Assembly will return in the near future, it was felt by all that we have no choice but to take action. It is clear members are angry that additional awards made to workers in Britain have not been made here. Civil servants will be aware that their counterparts in England and Wales have been offered a compensatory payment of £1,500.
It is entirely within the gift of the Secretary of State to resolve the pay issue for all public sector workers here by making more money available. Our action will be a clear signal to him that we are not prepared to accept the sanctions imposed on us by his punitive budget.
NIPSA is continuing to lobby political parties both here and in Britain and we are continuing to raise the issue with Senior Officials to highlight the continuing injustice in treatment and to impress upon them the need for action on your pay.
Plan for Action
Branches now need to plan for the strike action on Friday 22nd September and, if possible, branches should convene meetings of members to address any issues. Members of the Civil Service Executive Committee will be getting in touch with their allocated branches and will be available to speak to branch meetings, if required.
An online Branch Activist meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 September at 4pm. Please make every effort to attend. Your branch is welcome to send more than one activist. Link to follow.
Action short of strike action continues as outlined previously. If your branch wishes to include other action not on the list, please contact your HQ Official.
Leaflets for Members and Strike Materials
Most branches will still have some of the strike material they used during the April strike such as flags and placards but if you need additional material it will be available for immediate collection.
Those who cannot collect material should contact
New leaflets will be produced for circulation to members by email.
Picket Lines
Please also begin to organise your pickets. The start and finish time will depend on your building’s opening hours and core time. If you are intending to picket outside your building, I would be grateful if you would let your Seconded Officer/HQ Official know so that we can add your building to the list for visits. I know that in some areas, because of the nature of the work, it is not possible for you to picket your building. If that is the case, please join pickets elsewhere. There is no limit to the number of members who can join a picket line but there will only be 6 ‘official’ pickets.
Rallies
The details for rallies on the day have not been finalised. There will definitely be rallies in Belfast and L/derry. Discussions are still taking place regarding rallies in other towns and details on those will follow. The rallies will be organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and will involve all the trade unions on strike that day. Please encourage all your members to attend.
This coordinated action by public service unions is necessary to put pressure on the employers and the politicians. I would ask all members to join the action. Please circulate this article to all your members as soon as possible.