NI public-service workers in warning over reform plans
The British government was warned today it faced widespread industrial action by public servants in Northern Ireland in resistence to reform initiatives.
The NIPSA annual conference in Newcastle, Co Down, was told the current level of threats to civil and public service jobs in the North through the British government’s privatisation programme was worse that anything that had happened under the last Conservative government.
Union general secretary John Corey told over 400 delegates, representing 43,000 civil and public servants, that the North faced widespread attacks on jobs and services.
He issued a strong warning that attacks on jobs and conditions of public servants from privatisation, budget cuts and the Review of Public Administration [RPA] would be resisted by industrial action if necessary.
As the largest public service union NIPSA would be a key player in the RPA changes, he said.
“Ministers and government departments need to understand that in a massive public service reorganisation of this scale, we will not tolerate public servants being treated like pawns.
“Our demands for no compulsory redundancies, no less favourable terms and conditions of service and full protection of pensions are extremely fair, reasonable and justified.
“We have it within our power to frustrate the implementation of RPA and everyone needs to understand we will use that power if necessary to defend members’ interests.”
Mr Corey launched a bitter attack on ministers’ Workplace 2010 plans to sell off most government buildings and rent them back while at the same time privatising hundreds of jobs.
The British government wanted to sign up to a 25-year commitment regardless of future needs, especially the need to ensure equality and fair distribution of civil service jobs throughout the North Ireland, he said.
“The clear warning from this conference to ministers, senior civil-service management, to the Strategic Investment Board and anyone else, is that this union will be united in our determination to defend members’ jobs against privatisation – and if that requires industrial action then so be it,” said Mr Corey.
He also strongly attacked budget cuts being forced on education and library boards.
“Reading the South Eastern Education and Library Board’s proposed budget cuts, it is clear that the welfare, well-being and educational progress of our children, and the interests and jobs of staff working in schools, are being sacrificed in favour of wholly arbitrary budget cuts.”
As he spoke out members of NIPSA and UNISON joined community groups, parents and politicians in staging a protest outside the Dundonald HQ of the SEELB.
Lily Kerr of UNISON told the rally the planned cuts would have a devastating effect on children with special needs.
“UNISON is making it perfectly clear we will not allow the books to be balanced on the backs of needy children, nor will we allow the education and library board to pretend that an exercise in savage cuts is merely a review of how they deliver services and are in the best interests of the children as a whole,” said Ms Kerr.
The union also sent out the message it was no longer prepared to hear about cuts through the media, and said it expected full detailed consultation and negotiation as was their right as the representatives of the people who delivered the services.
