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Armagh Council services to be hit during strike over 1% pay offer

Bin collections are expected to be among services hit locally when public service sectors take strike action this Thursday, July 10.

Armagh City and District Council expects that “there will be disruption to council services” as a result of the action.

“Your weekly kerbside box service will not be affected, however if your bin collection day is Thursday it is likely your bin will not be collected,” a spokesperson confirmed.

“Your local recycling centre may be closed on Thursday but will accept general waste during normal opening hours on other days. Unfortunately additional black bags cannot be collected on your next bin collection.

“It is also anticipated that public toilets across the City and District will be closed and there may be some disruption to leisure and community services.

“Registration for births, deaths and marriages will be open as normal and Council offices can be contacted for up to date information on 028 3752 9600.

“Armagh City and District Council apologise for any inconvenience.”

It follows a ballot last week when 1941 (63.3%) NIPSA members voted in favour of action.

In considering the outcome of the ballot the Public Officers Group Executive Committee agreed to recommend the NIPSA Disputes Committee approve a one-day strike on 10 July 2014.

NIPSA members employed in Education, Libraries NI, Local Government, NI Housing Executive, Fold Housing Association, NSL, Youth Justice Agency employed on NJC pay will join with our sister unions Unite, GMB, Unison and SIPTU as part of a dispute in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in rejecting the employers’ 1% pay offer.

In relation to staff employed in Education and Library Boards and Further Education, it was decided, for a variety of reasons, not to call out on strike front-facing education staff (eg school based staff).

Staff in Education Board Headquarters and Out Centres will be on strike on 10th July.

It is expected to be the first of a rolling programme of action and members in all areas of education will be called to take action at a later stage.

NIPSA Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar states: “A separate circular providing advice to staff working in the Education Headquarters who are not on NJC pay has been issued separately to branches.

“In broad terms NIPSA is advising those members to carry out their normal duties, not cover work of striking colleagues and join their NIPSA colleagues on picket lines at the commencement of the day and attend any rallies.

“As members will already be aware the pay of members on NJC has been eroded by over 20% in real terms since 2010.  In the pay years 2010, 2011 and 2012, members received no increase in rates of pay with a meagre 1% uplift in 2013.  It is unacceptable with the cost of living continuing to increase that the NJC Employers’ Side have only offered a 1% increase against a backdrop of inflation running at over 2.5%.

“NIPSA would therefore call on all impacted members in the affected employment areas to join over 1.2 million workers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in defence of your pay.”

More county Armagh news:

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Vulnerable victim Owen (40) hid in wheelie bin after brutal murder

Portadown’s High Street Mall put on the market for sale

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Thousands due in Markethill for Co Armagh Twelfth demonstration

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