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| Strikes: Thousands of Northern Ireland public sector workers take action | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Thousands of public sector workers in Northern Ireland have been taking strike action in protest at a range of issues including pay and pensions. | |
| Staff at libraries, leisure centres, housing executive offices and other council-run premises were among those taking part. | |
| Bin collections were also affected. | |
| Members of Nipsa, Unite, the GMB, Unison, Siptu and the PCS joined trade unions in England and Wales in the strike action. | Members of Nipsa, Unite, the GMB, Unison, Siptu and the PCS joined trade unions in England and Wales in the strike action. |
| Unions said one of the things they were protesting about was a pay offer they claim was worth only 1%. | Unions said one of the things they were protesting about was a pay offer they claim was worth only 1%. |
| Patricia McKeown of Unison said: "It's essentially local government, education library and boards, Housing Executive, who are out today. It is not yet health and social care. | Patricia McKeown of Unison said: "It's essentially local government, education library and boards, Housing Executive, who are out today. It is not yet health and social care. |
| "The people we represent are predominantly low-paid. Three of the lowest pay bands are outside the living wage, some people are barely above the living age. | "The people we represent are predominantly low-paid. Three of the lowest pay bands are outside the living wage, some people are barely above the living age. |
| "And isn't it a terrible shock to find out that these days in Northern Ireland there are more people in work on welfare benefits than there are out of work on welfare benefits? | "And isn't it a terrible shock to find out that these days in Northern Ireland there are more people in work on welfare benefits than there are out of work on welfare benefits? |
| "That's our members." | "That's our members." |
| 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." |