Central Bank staff on strike

Staff at the Central Bank and Financial Regulator have gone out on strike today, three days after public sector workers staged a one-day stoppage in protest against Government plans to cut pay.

The trade union Unite said it would place pickets on the Central Bank on Dame Street, Dublin, the Office of the Financial Regulator on College Green and the Currency Centre in Sandyford.

Unite, which represents 600 staff, said the strike is ¿being taken in frustration at management¿s withdrawal from negotiations over employment contracts¿. It said the bank was in breach of existing agreements and is ¿a rebuke¿ to the Labour Relations Commission.

The bank said its office and the Financial Regulator¿s consumer information centre will not be open today. However, consumers with personal finance queries can still contact the helpline on 1890 777 777 and access information from the website www.itsyourmoney.ie.

Normal retail business of domestic banks will not be affected by today's stoppage.

The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland said it regretted any inconvenience to the public.