The British government was today facing the prospect of an all-out strike by the civil service in Northern Ireland.
Some 20,000 civil servants are being urged by their union to reject a pay offer and go on strike, it was revealed today.
Public service union NIPSA has been engaged in 38 weeks of industrial action over pay - including limited strike action - but its national executive now wants to step up the pressure.
General secretary Mr John Cory said the executive felt a "take-it-or-leave-it" offer made on Monday was not acceptable and would not resolve their dispute.
"NIPSA is a democratic union and members will now decide in the next three weeks whether or not to accept the pay offer," he said. "We will be urging against acceptance and we will also be urging members to support all out strike action if we are to carry on with the dispute."
Northern Ireland finance minister Mr Ian Pearson insisted on Monday the latest offer could not be increased.
He said it would cost the Government an extra 4.65 per cent to provide increases which would mean from 2 per cent up to 8 per cent for some civil servants.
But Mr Cory said: "Direct rule ministers know fine well that they are treating Northern Ireland Civil Service staff very unfairly and I am certain our members will not be taken in by ministers claims that these are good pay offers."
The union argues that the pay rise imposed on them for 2003 did not contain a cost of living increase and the 16-month 2004 offer does nothing to make up the shortfall.
PA