DURKAN WELCOMES ACCEPTANCE OF CIVIL SERVANTS PAY DEAL

Foyle MP Mark Durkan has welcomed last night’s news that members of the civil servant’s union Nipsa have overwhelmingly voted to accept a pay deal offered by the Northern Ireland Executive in November.

The Executive has agreed to pay £150 million in back pay to civil servants – with an additional £25 million earmarked for an increase to overall pay.

Mr Durkan said:

“I welcome the news that civil servants have overwhelmingly voted to accept this pay deal and that it will go some way towards alleviating financial hardship and put civil servants here on an equal footing.

“The prevarication and diversionary tactics surrounding this issue for so long caused a real sense of grievance for so many civil servants in Derry and throughout the North. 

“I have been raising this issue on behalf of Derry civil servants affected by this injustice. I will continue to put pressure on the Finance Minister until this matter is fully resolved. I will also continue to do all in my power to ensure that payments are speeded up and that people in Derry get the recompense they so rightly deserve.

“However, the acceptance of this settlement does not address the plight of staff who left the civil service six months before the settlement date.  I wrote to Sammy Wilson about those forgotten staff and await his reply which I hope will rectify their exclusion.  They should not fall victim to the foot-dragging of government departments.” 

ENDS

22-12-09