Civil servants in Northern Ireland will be balloted for strike action
Unions acting on behalf of civil servants in Northern Ireland are for the first time, simultaneously balloting members for the first time.
The GMB union has confirmed the ballots will take place from Thursday, until early next month.
It comes after the offer of a 2% pay offer was labelled as a 'huge real terms pay cut'.
The latest development arrives amid plans for 100,000 civil servants across the UK to strike on Budget Day in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
Carmel Gates, NIPSA General Secretary, on behalf of the joint Trade Union Side said:
“Our members are angry at how they are being treated. This is a real kick in the teeth for Civil Servants. With inflation in double figures this is a huge pay cut.
"Two-thirds of our members earn below the UK median wage and many rely on benefits to try to make ends meet.
"It is entirely unacceptable to treat workers who were classed as essential workers during the pandemic in this way.
"MPs gave themselves a £2,212 pay rise while our members are being offered £552 which is a quarter of that.”