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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Northern Ireland public sector strike disrupts public services | Northern Ireland public sector strike disrupts public services |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Public services in Northern Ireland are being disrupted by the biggest public sector strike in years. | Public services in Northern Ireland are being disrupted by the biggest public sector strike in years. |
| The strike is affecting education, public transport and administration. | The strike is affecting education, public transport and administration. |
| The Department of Health has 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. It is understood that most nurses are not taking part in the strike. | Cover will be provided for emergency services and activities. 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" on Thursday night meant staff 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 is not operating any scheduled bus or train services, except the Ulsterbus express Belfast to Dublin service at 23:00 GMT. |
| As a result, many roads were busier than normal on Friday morning. | As a result, many roads were busier than normal on Friday morning. |
| The Department of Education said it was the responsibility of school principals to decide if their school would remain open. | The Department of Education said it was the responsibility of school principals to decide if their school would remain open. |
| Many thousands of school children have been affected by the strike, particularly in the Catholic primary sector as members of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which represents mainly Catholic teachers are out on strike. | Many thousands of school children have been affected by the strike, particularly in the Catholic primary sector as members of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which represents mainly Catholic teachers are out on strike. |
| It was the only teaching union that voted for strike action. | It was 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), had called on schools to remain open, if not for children, then for teachers and other staff who did not want to strike. | The body that oversees Catholic education in Northern Ireland, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), had called on schools to remain open, if not for children, then for teachers and other staff who did not want to strike. |
| In the controlled sector, most primary schools opened but some closed early because non-teaching staff such as canteen workers and supervisors are on strike. | In the controlled sector, most primary schools opened but some closed early because non-teaching staff such as canteen workers and supervisors are on strike. |
| Some schools told pupils to bring packed lunches instead. | Some schools told pupils to bring packed lunches instead. |
| While some post primary schools are closed because of the shortage of staff and pupil transport, the majority appear to stayed open, particularly for the older exam classes. | While some post primary schools are closed because of the shortage of staff and pupil transport, the majority appear to stayed open, particularly for the older exam classes. |
| Striking worker Noeleen Beattie, who has been a classroom assistant in Londonderry, for 21 years said: "I work with children with a range of learning difficulties. | Striking worker Noeleen Beattie, who has been a classroom assistant in Londonderry, for 21 years said: "I work with children with a range of learning difficulties. |
| "I'm on strike to protect the services which are so vital to our children. My message to the politicians is to help us, not hurt us." | "I'm on strike to protect the services which are so vital to our children. My message to the politicians is to help us, not hurt us." |
| The Model Primary School in Londonderry is one of the schools affected by the strike. It is partially open because a third of teachers are on strike as well as other members of staff. | The Model Primary School in Londonderry is one of the schools affected by the strike. It is partially open because a third of teachers are on strike as well as other members of staff. |
| The school said it would only remain open until lunchtime as it would then have insufficient cover to supervise the children. | The school said it would only remain open until lunchtime as it would then have insufficient cover to supervise the children. |
| Analysis: John Campbell, BBC News NI Economics & Business Editor | Analysis: 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. |
| Rallies | Rallies |
| Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service said it was working to minimise any disruption to court business. | Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service said it was working to minimise any disruption to court business. |
| It anticipated that the number of cases listed was lower than a normal Friday. | It anticipated that the number of cases listed was lower than a normal Friday. |
| The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions organised 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 organised a series of rallies and events to mark what it said was "the largest single day of industrial action in several years". |
| Rallies took place in Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Coleraine, Magherafelt, Cookstown, Dungannon and Craigavon. | Rallies took place in Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Coleraine, Magherafelt, Cookstown, Dungannon and Craigavon. |
| In Derry, trade unionist Liam Gallagher described a move to cut 20,000 jobs in public sector and "claim it won't have an impact on society" as the "economics of madhouse". | In Derry, trade unionist Liam Gallagher described a move to cut 20,000 jobs in public sector and "claim it won't have an impact on society" as the "economics of madhouse". |
| He said: "The rich will be rewarded with corporation tax, while workers will suffer." | He said: "The rich will be rewarded with corporation tax, while workers will suffer." |
| 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. |
| DUP MLA, Edwin Poots, said that as a result of Sinn Féin withdrawing support for the welfare reform bill on Monday, there was "£200m more coming out of public services". | |
| "If the unions think they have something to strike about today, whenever they are faced with the consequences of that in June because the budget that we have is no longer fit for purpose, then they are going to face massive cuts," he said. | "If the unions think they have something to strike about today, whenever they are faced with the consequences of that in June because the budget that we have is no longer fit for purpose, then they are going to face massive cuts," he said. |
| Conor Murphy of Sinn Féin said: "The strike is not on a single focus on the Stormont House Agreement. | Conor Murphy of Sinn Féin said: "The strike is not on a single focus on the Stormont House Agreement. |
| "I think the strike is about much more than that, it is about the cuts to public funding which impact on public services and the ideological drive of the government in Westminster to try to cut back on their own deficit by attacking services and the welfare state. | "I think the strike is about much more than that, it is about the cuts to public funding which impact on public services and the ideological drive of the government in Westminster to try to cut back on their own deficit by attacking services and the welfare state. |
| "And with that we speak with one voice, with the union." | "And with that we speak with one voice, with the union." |