Civil servants have been in dispute with management since last year

Six workers at the jobs and benefits office in Newtownabbey were suspended without pay after they refused to go on a training course on Monday.

The Department of Employment and Learning said the staff were in breach of contract.

However, the union's Tony McMullan said he was horrified by the move.

"I think it is very, very unfortunate that management have behaved in this way," he said.

"What we will be doing over the next period of time is providing every bit of support that we can to these six people."

We are considering measures to protect our obligation to customers and minimise the impact of the strike Department of Employment and Learning

A statement by the department said: "The suspensions follow industrial action by staff, leading to a disruption of business which was considered to be a breach of their terms of employment.

"We are considering measures to protect our obligation to customers and minimise the impact of the strike."

Thousands of civil servants have taken part in a series of strikes since late last year over being denied any "cost of living" increase in rates of pay from April 2003.

Meanwhile, staff at social security offices in counties Down and Armagh are to start industrial action as part of a pay dispute.

NIPSA says Tuesday's strikes at the benefits offices in Newry and Lurgan and at the industrial tribunal offices in Belfast, mark a major escalation in its fight to secure a cost of living increase.

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