12 February 2004
DEPARTMENT WILL SUSPEND STAFF WHO REFUSE TO WORK
The Department for Social Development today announced that it will be suspending without pay, any member of staff who embarks on further industrial action that disrupts business and is in breach of the terms of their employment. This is one in a number of measures that the Department has had to apply, to ensure that it can continue to deliver customer services.
Over the last number of weeks the Department, particularly the Social Security Agency and Child Support Agency, has experienced disruption as a result of industrial action by members of Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance.
A spokesperson for the Department for Social Development said:
"Some of the most vulnerable people in our society depend on the Department’s services. Many customers, including those who are sick and people with disabilities, are unable to contact our offices because of the action by Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance members. Services to customers are being held to ransom and we cannot allow this to continue.
"Last week, we were forced to remove flexible working hours from staff who refused to carryout their normal duties, in breach of their terms of employment. This resulted in some staff taking unlawful strike action by staging a walk out. We cannot pay staff for periods when they are not working.
"Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance has now escalated action again by directing some of their members to stop taking or making telephone calls. We now find ourselves in a position where we must warn staff involved in the escalated action, that we will temporarily remove them from duty, that is suspension without pay indefinitely.
"Again we have been forced to take action reluctantly. Any staff member who refuses to keep to the terms of their employment, must realise the consequences they face, including; deductions from their pay, withdrawal of the Flexible Working Hours Scheme and being suspended without pay."
Commenting on the response to the last Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance day of action, the spokesperson said: "Figures clearly show that the majority of staff, of whom a significant number are union members, wish to continue working normally to provide those services upon which Department for Social Development customers depend. There were significantly fewer members of staff supporting the strike on the 6 February 2004, compared to the figure supporting the action on 11 December 2003.
The spokesperson went on to say that although the figures are encouraging there is no doubt that in some areas the industrial action is having a damaging effect on services to customers including those that we provide to other Government Departments in Great Britain.
"We would urge all staff to reflect, make balanced judgements and come to the right decision for them."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
6 February 11 December
Core DSD 17% of staff supported the strike 30% support
SSA 43% of staff supported the strike 52% support
CSA 50% of staff supported the strike 58% support
DSD total 42% of staff supported the strike 53% support
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