Public services are set to be severely disrupted in Northern Ireland today as council workers stage the largest public sector strike in more than 20 years.
Some 20,000 workers in the North are expected to join their colleagues in England and Wales in the one-day walk-out as part of a protest at the offer of a 3 per cent pay rise. They want 6 per cent.
The action is likely to result in the closure of schools, leisure centres and libraries.
Employers claim the 6 per cent rise being sought was the equivalent to £80 sterling per year on council tax bills. The say it is unaffordable without substantial job losses and cuts in services.
The Transport and General Workers Union claimed workers were being intimidated with threats of privatisation, redundancy, pay and pension cuts and disciplinary action if they joined the walkout.
The unions warn that if today's action is ignored there will be more 24-hour strike actions in future.