Some vehicle test centre staff have been on strike since last month

Civil servants at nine vehicle testing centres closed by strike action have voted to stay away from work.

Members of the civil service union Nipsa met at the test centre in Belfast on Friday to discuss strategy.

Although some staff argued for a return to work the majority voted to maintain industrial action.

Armagh, Craigavon, Lisburn, and Newry centres are unstaffed and no testing is taking place.

No testing is taking place at Belfast, Londonderry, Larne and Newtownards test centres, however some staff are providing an information service.

Mallusk test centre has skeleton staff and some testing is taking place. Members of Nipsa began strike action last month at nine centres across the province.

It is part of a wider dispute over pay, which has been ongoing since last December.

About 6,000 MoT tests a week, as well as practical driving examinations, are being affected by the industrial action.

Up to now, civil servants at the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency have voted to continue their action, but there is growing concern about the effect on customers.

Our staff continually seek to balance the achievement of their objectives with the effect on customer service Sam Johnston Nipsa Strike 'threatens lorry jobs'

It is also creating a backlog for MoT and driving tests, which will have an impact on centres for several months.

Earlier on Friday, Nipsa representative Sam Johnston said the meeting would give DVTA staff a chance to give their views on the strike.

"Our staff continually seek to balance the achievement of their objectives with the effect on customer service," he said.

"By having these regular meetings, staff can review the effect on customer service and take a fresh decision every two weeks or so on whether we should continue the action."

On Thursday, public services were further disrupted after Rate Collection Agency staff staged an unofficial walkout.

The strike action, by up to 60 members of Nipsa, seriously affected the Agency's Belfast and Craigavon offices.

Union officials say it was a show of support for four members of staff who were suspended without pay.

Nipsa has been involved in strike action since December over what they said was the government's refusal to give civil service staff any cost of living increases in rates of pay since April last year.

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

However, union officials say that was part of a pre-agreed increment and takes no account of the rise in the cost of living.