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| Strikes: Thousands of Northern Ireland public sector workers on industrial action | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of public sector workers are set to take strike action on Thursday in protest at a range of issues including pay and pensions. | Thousands of public sector workers are set to take strike action on Thursday in protest at a range of issues including pay and pensions. |
| Libraries, leisure centres, housing executive offices, and other council-run premises like Belfast Zoo are expected to close. | Libraries, leisure centres, housing executive offices, and other council-run premises like Belfast Zoo are expected to close. |
| Bin collections will also be affected. | Bin collections will also be affected. |
| Members of Nipsa, Unite, the GMB, Unison, Siptu and the PCS are joining trade unions in England and Wales in the strike action. | Members of Nipsa, Unite, the GMB, Unison, Siptu and the PCS are joining trade unions in England and Wales in the strike action. |
| It could be the biggest walkout of employees since the coalition government came to power in May 2010. | It could be the biggest walkout of employees since the coalition government came to power in May 2010. |
| Unions say one of the things they are demonstrating over is a pay offer that they say is worth only 1%. | Unions say one of the things they are demonstrating over is a pay offer that they say is worth only 1%. |
| Jimmy Kelly of Unite, said: "Our members don't do glamorous jobs, they're the ones lifting your bins from outside your door. | Jimmy Kelly of Unite, said: "Our members don't do glamorous jobs, they're the ones lifting your bins from outside your door. |
| "It's a job that has to be done, but they have to be paid decent wages. | "It's a job that has to be done, but they have to be paid decent wages. |
| "We've tried all the usual talking and meetings, trying to achieve an extra pound an hour for our members. The talking just doesn't get you anywhere." | "We've tried all the usual talking and meetings, trying to achieve an extra pound an hour for our members. The talking just doesn't get you anywhere." |
| Alison Millar, deputy general secretary, of NIPSA said: "Members have voted to reject the employers' side offer of 1%. | Alison Millar, deputy general secretary, of NIPSA said: "Members have voted to reject the employers' side offer of 1%. |
| "Quite frankly members have had enough. Their pay has effectively been cut by over 20% in real terms. Members' take-home pay buys less and less every year." | "Quite frankly members have had enough. Their pay has effectively been cut by over 20% in real terms. Members' take-home pay buys less and less every year." |