Civil servants took their strike to Stormont

The rallies, in Belfast and Londonderry, took place after public service union NIPSA said talks with management had failed to make any progress in resolving the dispute.

It is also feared that the dispute could jeopardise court cases amid fears a work-to-rule by forensic scientists could hamper police investigations.

Union officials said civil service staff had been denied any "cost of living" increase in their rates of pay from April 2003.

NIPSA's General Secretary, Mr John Corey said the dispute could not be resolved unless the point was addressed.

He also said that the public should not be misled by the government's references to a 3.6% pay increase.

"This is a fiction figure," he said.

"Staff have received only the normal annual pay increment within pay scales in the same way as all other public servants such as police, nurses, teachers.

"But all other public servants have also received increases in rates of pay of 3% or more in line with inflation."

Ian Pearson said staff were being treated fairly

Finance Minister Ian Pearson insisted that there was no more money available.

"As a government, our highest priority is the delivery of improved public services and we cannot allow excessive public sector pay rises to jeopardise that," he said.

"We are taking a very firm approach to pay this year and we are applying strict controls.

"The continuance of this action by NIPSA will only hit those who need government services most."

A work-to-rule at the Forensic Science Agency in Carrickfergus means scientists are not attending scenes of crime out-of-hours or at weekends.

Some people believe that could lead to vital evidence being compromised and future court cases being jeopardised.

Jim Lilley, of NIPSA's Scientific Branch, said if evidence was taken by someone who was not properly qualified, there was a danger that "evidence could be contaminated."

Ian Paisley jnr said the government needed to recognise that by "failing to address this dispute it's having a knock-on affect with the issue of gathering of forensic evidence".

The Northern Ireland Office and the PSNI said contingency arrangements were currently in place with Forensic Science Northern Ireland to deal with crime scenes in the province.

Meanwhile, a three day walk-out is planned next week for telephonists working on government switchboards with NIPSA's 20,000 members urged not to answer telephones in government offices.

Next week's action is the latest phase in a campaign of strikes aimed at causing maximum disruption and at putting pressure on civil service bosses and ministers.

In addition to the selective strike action all union members have been maintaining a strict work-to-rule across all departments.

The government has imposed a pay package which will add 3.67% to the wage bill of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.