Staff were balloted over the last week, with 134 out of 136 staff voting in favour of the action.

Admin and clerical staff at the child and family agency are starting a work-to-rule action today in a dispute over a job evaluation scheme.

Around 5 thousand people in community and voluntary sector were due to start industrial action today.

Forsa has organised the work-to-rule which affects all clerical and administrative staff in the health authority.

The discussions, around pay and issues related to recruitment and retention of on-call firefighters, ended overnight.

They say they'll respond to any "life at risk" calls despite the industrial action.

Councillor Peggy Nolan says the current demands on retained firefighters are simply unacceptable.

Deputy Clarke says these issues are not new and the problems have been known about for several years now.