LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Civil Disobedience in Public Sector Strike Lacks Full Union Support
Not all unions back the call for civil disobedience in response to public sector pay disputes beyond the upcoming major strike this Thursday, according to a union official.
15 January 2024 · 09:03 UTC
Northern Ireland is preparing for potentially the largest strike in its history as thousands of public workers, including teachers and healthcare staff, plan to walk out over wage grievances.
While the deputy general secretary of Nipsa, Patrick Mulholland, suggested that civil disobedience, such as blocking roads or occupying buildings, could follow, Mr. Murphy clarified that while Nipsa, a member union of ICTU, is entitled to its stance, ICTU does not endorse this view currently. Decisions on further union actions will be collective and decided after the strike.
Workers' Strike Over Pay Dispute
The strike is part of an extended dispute over pay, where a £584m offer from the government to address sector pay issues, within a larger £3.3bn package, failed to resume normal operations at Stormont due to DUP opposition. Unions blame Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris and the government for not releasing funds to settle the dispute.
The unions insist that Heaton-Harris, who has admitted the availability of funds, should release them promptly for negotiation with workers' representatives.
Political Context Amid Strike
The timing of the strike coincides with a critical political week in Northern Ireland. Secretary of State Heaton-Harris is slated for individual talks with party leaders and faces a deadline to call elections if power-sharing is not restored by Thursday—the same day as the strike. The government may choose to delay elections further.
Sinn Féin aims to reconvene the Northern Ireland Assembly on Wednesday, the seventh attempt since the last election. However, without a Speaker, which DUP has previously obstructed, no proceedings can occur.