Lisburn strike action in BSO will disrupt Christmas warns NIPSA

The week-long strike action, which began on Monday December 18, is part of longer running industrial action.

There are picket lines at BSO Warehouse, Lissue Industrial Estate in Lisburn, as well as BSO Warehouse, 77 Boucher Crescent, Belfast.

There will also be a protest at The Secretary of State’s Office, Erskine House, Chichester Street in Belfast.

Approximately 50 NIPSA members in BSO warehouse operations within the Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS), the lowest paid workers in the health service, will walk out in response the long running dispute over low pay and safe staffing.

NIPSA Deputy General Secretary Patrick Mulholland said “These workers have had enough.

"The Secretary of State has failed to address the immediate need for a real and meaningful pay rise for these low paid workers and workers across all our public services.

"They cannot hold on while talks continue with no end in sight. Future promises will not pay their immediate bills.

“There is a real and growing concern that health service pay and staffing has been pushed down the political agenda.

"Our members are determined to send a clear message that we will not accept becoming a causality in the NI political talks.

"These workers have courageously chosen to take strike action due to the complete failure to address their needs and the long running dispute over pay and working conditions in the NHS.

"The strike action is only the start. Further action in the new year is inevitable unless a real pay rise is delivered for these workers.”