Information about public sector industrial action
Date published:
Public services and contact details
A range of public services may be affected by the industrial action.
If you plan to visit a public sector office, it may be advisable to contact them before starting your journey. You should find the phone number you need at this link:
There may be some disruption to telephone services and call waiting times.
Benefits and financial support
Some services may be reduced, however benefits payments due on Thursday 18 January will still be paid by that date.
On Thursday 18 January, Jobs and Benefits offices will be closed in response to the severe weather forecast and lack of road gritting. This decision has been made for the safety and wellbeing of staff and the public.
Customers may experience increased call waiting times on telephone services.
Universal Credit online claim services are available, but there may be delays in response times.
You can get general information about benefits and other financial support at the following page:
Appeals Tribunal
Most tribunal sessions have been postponed and affected participants have been informed. Phone services may be limited, with some delays anticipated, but if you need to speak to someone, call the Tribunal on 028 9054 4000.
Careers
The careers webchat service may be operating a reduced service on Thursday 18 January, however careers advisers can still by contacted by using the Ask Careers online form or by phoning 0300 200 7820. Normal response rates may be affected, but every effort will be made to respond as soon as possible.
There is also lots of useful information in the careers section.
DAERA
DAERA Direct offices are closed to frontline customer access in Coleraine, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Mallusk, Strabane and Newry.
A reduced service is available in Armagh, Ballymena, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Newtownards and Omagh.
DAERA online services and the cattle telephony registration service stay operational.
Department for Communities buildings
On Thursday 18 January, all Department for Communities (DfC) offices, public buildings, and Jobs and Benefits offices will be closed in response to the severe weather forecast and lack of road gritting. This decision has been made for the safety and wellbeing of staff and the public.
Driving tests, MOT, and theory tests
Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) driving and vehicle test services will be affected.
Anyone with an appointment on 18 January 2024 should go as scheduled, unless directly notified by DVA not to.
If your test cannot go ahead, DVA will contact you directly either by phone from a withheld number or by email, to arrange a new appointment at the earliest opportunity.
If you fail to go to a booked test which you have not cancelled or changed, no refund or free test will be provided and you will need to rebook your test.
Theory tests
Theory tests will not be affected by the planned industrial action. Customers with appointments on 18 January 2024 should go as scheduled.
General Register Office for NI
Due to industrial action the services provided by General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI) may be impacted on Thursday 18 January.
The GRONI Public Office will be open from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm, but there may be delays in the processing of requests.
Health and Social Care services
There will be widespread disruption to health and social care services, with a range of areas likely to be impacted.
This includes planned and unplanned (urgent/ emergency) hospital services, community services such as day centres, district nursing and domiciliary care, as well as ambulance cover.
You can find the latest information on the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust websites:
- Belfast HSC Trust
- Northern HSC Trust
- South Eastern HSC Trust
- Southern HSC Trust
- Western HSC Trust
- NI Ambulance Service
Land and Property Services
Due to industrial action, the services provided by Land and Property Services (LPS) may be impacted. This could include:
- increased call waiting times on telephone services
- a reduced service at LPS offices
If you are planning to visit an LPS office, you should contact LPS by phone to arrange an appointment before starting your journey.
Office of the Industrial Tribunal and Fair Employment Tribunal
The Office of the Industrial Tribunal and Fair Employment Tribunal (OITFET) will be closed on Thursday 18 January due to industrial action, and the adverse weather conditions.
A limited number of staff will be working from home, but services may be impacted.
Roads
With cold weather being forecast for this week, the industrial action will cause disruption to the Department for Infrastructure's (DfI) winter gritting service.
DfI is advising people not to travel unless essential and, if they need to travel, to take particular care on Thursday 18 January and Friday 19 January, given the potential for icy conditions.
Where possible, contingency plans are being put in place, but it is expected that there will be widespread disruption on Thursday 18 January, which will affect the following services:
- winter service – gritting of the road network
- repair of serious infrastructure defects such as manhole collapse or potholes
- prioritisation of help to those incidents with most impact to life and property
- response and clear-up operation when there are incidents on the road such as oil spills or unexpected debris
- drainage infrastructure clearing and cleansing
- significantly reduced capacity to respond to flood emergencies
- significant delays in responding to calls to the Flooding Incident Line
Schools
Severe disruption and potential widespread school closures are expected due to industrial action.
Parents and carers are advised to check Education Authority website and social media channels for regular updates on impacted services.
Strangford ferry
The Strangford Lough Ferry Service is not available on Thursday 18 January due to the industrial action.