Ulster Bank's staff in Northern Ireland have voted in favour of industrial action if the bank seeks to implement proposed pay and job cuts. This follows a similar move by staff in the Republic.

The Irish Bank Officials' Association (IBOA) said industrial action would take place only if the proposals were forced through.

The IBOA claims 81 per cent of the bank's Northern workforce supported industrial action but Ulster Bank disputes this figure. Commenting on the outcome of the ballot, the IBOA's assistant general secretary, Mr Larry Broderick, called on the bank's management to honour existing agreements on salaries and no compulsory redundancies to avoid industrial action.

"The IBOA is happy to sit down and negotiate change with Ulster Bank on existing agreements. "However, we are very concerned at attempts by the bank to proceed, irrespective of ongoing arbitration, with new managerial appointments and the implementation of restructuring plans," he said.

Ulster Bank claims the ballot result is not representative of most of its staff in Northern Ireland and does not represent a verdict on its proposals, which are being considered by independent tribunals. The bank's chief executive, Mr Martin Wilson, urged the IBOA to set aside the ballot in favour of waiting for the tribunals' recommendations which, he said, would provide the best solution to this dispute. The IBOA is concerned that the bank's restructuring plans could lead to 200-500 job losses from its 4,500 staff in Ireland. Ulster Bank also wants pay cuts of as much as 30 per cent for certain employees.

Both the IBOA and Ulster Bank await rulings from two independent tribunals in Northern Ireland and the Republic on the dispute. A ruling on the Northern operations is expected shortly.