2 October 2002

STATEMENT ON INDUSTRIAL ACTION TAKEN BY NIPSA MEMBERS IN SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY PUBLIC OFFICES

MORE THAN HALF OF OFFICES STAY OPEN DESPITE INDUSTRIAL ACTION

More than half of Social Security Agency public offices remained open despite a call by the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) for the offices to be closed by strike action.

A spokesperson for the Social Security Agency said: "The staff who kept offices open to the public today must be commended. By keeping these offices open they have given a reassurance to customers that they are committed to improving services.

"I call on NIPSA to provide the leadership their members deserve and recommend a return to normal services to customers."

Commenting on possible future action, the spokesperson said: "Further industrial action is in nobody’s interest. Customers will be inconvenienced and staff involved in the industrial action may lose pay. It is time for NIPSA to take up our offer of talks and call off this ill-conceived action."

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