Murphy demands more cash in London as it's confirm civil service strike goes ahead

Q Radio News

Stormont's Finance Minister is expected to travel to London on Thursday to call for more money to be allocated to Northern Ireland.

A cash injection was pledged as part of a deal to restore power-sharing earlier this month ending a three year political vacuum here.

The government said it was worth £2bn, but it later emerged half of that had already been earmarked for Northern Ireland.

Conor Murphy will argue with the Treasury that more cash is needed to deal with a range of issues like the health crisis and legacy plans.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the NIPSA trade union has met with Mr. Murphy at Stormont ahead of a planned strike on Friday by civil servants.

Union leader Alison Millar says the industrial action over pay will go ahead as scheduled...

Both sides issued statements after the meeting:

Department of Finance

Speaking following his meeting with NIPSA, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said:

“I welcomed the opportunity to meet with NIPSA this evening. It was a constructive discussion.

“I appreciate the work that Civil Servants do in supporting and delivering a wide range of public services and am committed to continued engagement with trade union colleagues.

“Through joint working and meaningful engagement we will be better placed to meet the challenges ahead.”

NIPSA

NIPSA MET WITH FINANCE MINISTER ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY

NIPSA, the largest public sector union in Northern Ireland, today met with the Finance Minister Conor Murphy to press home the case for a pay increase for civil servants.

Alison Millar, NIPSA General Secretary stated: “The Minister acknowledged the work carried out by thousands of civil servants, particularly when the NI Assembly was not functioning and indicated a desire to seek to resolve the long running NICS Pay, Terms and Conditions Dispute.  
"He indicated that the NI Executive had met earlier in the day and the issue of the finances was of major concern.  In doing so he indicated he was meeting with the Treasury on Thursday and would be pressing the case for more money for Northern Ireland.  
"NIPSA made it abundantly clear that civil servants were frustrated and angry that they were not being treated with the same urgency as Health workers.  He reiterated his desire to seek to resolve the dispute and would not drag his heels in seeking a resolution."
Ms Millar added: "The Minister further indicated he had given his officials scope to commence the negotiations and NIPSA will engage with the Management Side tomorrow (Thursday) as a first step in seeking to resolve the dispute.  It was made clear however that our action would continue until a resolution of the dispute was secured which would be acceptable to members."

In the meantime the one day strike on 24 January 2019 will proceed.