Staff at Derry’s Electoral Office have gone on strike today in protest at plans to centralise services in Belfast.
Members of the NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance) are supporting staff members on the picket line outside the Queen Street office (pictured)..
It is the first of two one-day strikes planned by the union, the second will take place on Tuesday next.
Staff across the North also began an overtime ban yesterday, meaning they will be only working their contracted hours.
The industrial action comes ahead of the upcoming European Referendum.
A NIPSA spokesperson said staff had been “forced” into taking the industrial action “in defence” of their jobs and public services
The spokesperson added the proposal to centralise services in Belfast would result in the closure of the six regional offices across the North, putting 30 jobs at risk.
The spokesperson said “Members in the six regional offices of the Electoral Office are facing the prospect of the loss of their jobs, or having to travel, in some instances, long distances to work if the proposal to close offices goes ahead.
“This would mean that there wold be no Electoral Offices outside of Belfast.
“This is unacceptable. There are 30 members working across the six Regional Offices.”
Staff have got the backing of Foyle MLAs Colum Eastwood and Raymond McCartney.
SDLP leader Mr Eastwood has called on Secretary of State Theresa Villiers to intervene and resolve the dispute while Sinn Fein’s Raymond McCartney is seeking meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer.
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