To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning for an update on his Department’s Human Resources negotiations with NIPSA over the establishment of an Industrial Relations Framework.

The Department recognises the value of good industrial relations and is committed to ensuring to the highest level of cooperation with Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) for the benefit of the organisation and its employee.

Negotiations with NIPSA over the establishment of an Industrial Relations Framework are currently ongoing. Negotiations commenced on 7 October 2013 and NIPSA representatives were provided with a draft Industrial Relations Framework on this date. Human Resources (HR) met with NIPSA on 17 October 2013 at which time representatives were invited to put forward comments on the draft. NIPSA subsequently provided a revised draft Industrial Relation Framework to HR on 15 September 2014. HR is currently in the process of reviewing this draft and it is envisaged that a final document will be agreed by the end of the financial year.