'Under threat and undervalued' PSNI civilian staff to vote on industrial action

PSNI civilian staff are being balloted on potential industrial action, with the Nipsa trade union claiming its members are “under threat and undervalued”.

According to Nipsa, the civilian employees are being paid considerably less ‘danger money’ than police officers, and that an uplift in the revised environmental allowance (REA) payment would “show staff that their lives are no less valued than their officer counterparts”.

In a statement, the union said the threat being faced “is solely linked to being employed by the PSNI and our members are considered 'legitimate targets' by those who wish to disrupt society and threaten peace”.

It also said Nipsa “believes that our members are both under threat and undervalued,” and adds: “There is a two-tier workforce and mentality within the PSNI and the disparity of pay and terms and conditions creates further divide.

“The malign minority in society who threaten PSNI staff don't differentiate between officer and police staff, and NIPSA believes that the Department of Justice (DoJ) shouldn't either, in how it views the staff.

"Nipsa, on behalf of our members, have had enough of having to go with a begging bowl in the hope there are some scraps left over… to finally reward them for performing their roles whilst under the most dangerous of circumstances."

The statement goes on to say: “Nipsa believes that the justice minister owes a duty of care to these hardworking members and budget considerations cannot be cited as a valid excuse when the money is able to be sourced for officers and linked to their pay awards and yet civilian staff under the same threats and risk are told there isn't sufficient money to replicate this for them.”

Meanwhile, education minister Paul Givan has welcomed the full suspension of strike action by support staff which was due to continue on Tuesday.

Nipsa and the GMB unions had called off action for Monday and Tuesday, with all support staff unions now agreeing to suspend action due to take place on Tuesday.

Mr Givan said: “I very much welcome that further positive and constructive engagement has taken place today resulting in strike action planned by Unite the Union for tomorrow (Tuesday) being called off.

"This is a very positive development that allows our schools to be open as normal for all our children and young people”.

Mr Givan added: “I do not underestimate the important role played by support workers both in the classroom and in the various roles they play in areas such as transport and catering to ensure that pupils who depend on them, receive the vital support they deserve.”

There will be other strike disruption this week however, with health services due to be affected by industrial action involving junior doctors.

The strike will run from 7am on Thursday until 7am on Saturday.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “When the ballot for this industrial action was launched, junior doctors, like the rest of Northern Ireland’s health service staff, had received no pay award for 2023/24.

"This is no longer the case. A backdated 2023/24 pay award for junior doctors will be paid this month, with its terms in line with the recommendations of the national pay review body, the DDRB.

“This award involves an average pay increase of 9.07% for junior doctors in NI, with those in their first year receiving a 10.68% uplift”.