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Northern Ireland public sector strike: Disruption expected to services Northern Ireland public sector strike disrupts public services
(about 9 hours later)
Northern Ireland faces disruption to a number of services on Friday due to a planned strike by some public sector trade unions. Public services in Northern Ireland are being disrupted by a strike by some public sector trade unions.
The strike will affect education, public transport and administration. The strike is affecting education, public transport and administration.
The Department of Health have said arrangements have been put in place to ensure "critical services will be maintained". The Department of Health has said arrangements have been put in place to ensure "critical services will be maintained".
Cover will be provided for emergency services and activities. Cover will be provided for emergency services and activities. It is understood that most nurses are not taking part in the strike.
It is understood that most nurses are not taking part in the strike. An estimated 60% of accident and emergency crews and 80% of rapid response paramedics had planned to strike, but a major incident declared by the Ambulance Service "to maintain a safe level of cover" on Thursday night meant staff were required turn up for duty.
An estimated 60% of accident and emergency crews and 80% of rapid response paramedics had planned to strike, but a major incident declared by the Ambulance Service "to maintain a safe level of cover" meant workers were required turn up for duty. Translink is not operating any scheduled bus or train services, except the Ulsterbus express Belfast to Dublin service at 23:00 GMT.
Translink have said they will not be operating any scheduled bus or train services, except the Ulsterbus express Belfast to Dublin service at 23:00 GMT. As a result, many roads have been busier than normal on Friday morning.
The Department of Education has said it is the responsibility of school principals to decide if their school will remain open.The Department of Education has said it is the responsibility of school principals to decide if their school will remain open.
Members of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which represents mainly Catholic teachers, is the only teaching union that voted for strike action.Members of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which represents mainly Catholic teachers, is the only teaching union that voted for strike action.
The body that oversees Catholic education in Northern Ireland, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), has said all schools should remain open, if not for children, then for teachers and other staff who do not want to strike.The body that oversees Catholic education in Northern Ireland, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), has said all schools should remain open, if not for children, then for teachers and other staff who do not want to strike.
However, with canteen and bus and train staff likely to take action, some schools have asked only senior and exam classes to come in, using alternative transport. However, with canteen and bus and train staff taking action, some schools have asked only senior and exam classes to come in, using alternative transport.
Analysis: John Campbell, BBC News NI Economics & Business EditorAnalysis: John Campbell, BBC News NI Economics & Business Editor
Why are the unions on strike?Why are the unions on strike?
The unions have put the Stormont House Agreement and the budget which followed it at the heart of this industrial action.The unions have put the Stormont House Agreement and the budget which followed it at the heart of this industrial action.
They believe Stormont House was a bad deal: bad for public services, bad for their members and ideologically right wing.They believe Stormont House was a bad deal: bad for public services, bad for their members and ideologically right wing.
They say that cutting 20,000 posts from the public sector will hit services and put workers under pressure.They say that cutting 20,000 posts from the public sector will hit services and put workers under pressure.
They also dislike the plan to sell publicly owned assets and are deeply sceptical about what was agreed on welfare reform and the devolution of corporation tax.They also dislike the plan to sell publicly owned assets and are deeply sceptical about what was agreed on welfare reform and the devolution of corporation tax.
The veteran socialist campaigner Eamonn McCann points out that this is the first time trade unions have opposed a Stormont deal.The veteran socialist campaigner Eamonn McCann points out that this is the first time trade unions have opposed a Stormont deal.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP are supporting the strike but some politicians might be inclined to ask the unions how they think a better deal could have been achieved.Sinn Féin and the SDLP are supporting the strike but some politicians might be inclined to ask the unions how they think a better deal could have been achieved.
The Social Security Agency may be operating a reduced service.The Social Security Agency may be operating a reduced service.
Child Maintenance Service (CMS) may be operating a reduced telephone service and waiting times for a response may be longer.Child Maintenance Service (CMS) may be operating a reduced telephone service and waiting times for a response may be longer.
RalliesRallies
Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is working to minimise any disruption to court business. It anticipates that the number of cases listed will be lower than a normal Friday. Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is working to minimise any disruption to court business. It anticipates that the number of cases listed is lower than a normal Friday.
The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it was organising a series of rallies and events to mark what it said was "the largest single day of industrial action in several years".The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it was organising a series of rallies and events to mark what it said was "the largest single day of industrial action in several years".
Rallies are scheduled for Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Coleraine, Magherafelt, Cookstown, Dungannon and Craigavon.Rallies are scheduled for Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Coleraine, Magherafelt, Cookstown, Dungannon and Craigavon.
The strike comes as efforts continue to resolve Stormont's welfare reform crisis.The strike comes as efforts continue to resolve Stormont's welfare reform crisis.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has warned that without agreement on welfare, a budget at Stormont was unsustainable.Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has warned that without agreement on welfare, a budget at Stormont was unsustainable.
However, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin said the government was "a huge part of the problem".However, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin said the government was "a huge part of the problem".
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said the "strike will not bring a single extra penny into the Northern Ireland budget, so it cannot help achieve any resolution to any of the issues they are protesting against".East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said the "strike will not bring a single extra penny into the Northern Ireland budget, so it cannot help achieve any resolution to any of the issues they are protesting against".