First Active's 550 SIPTU members will be balloted for industrial action next week, following what the union claims are attempts to impose forced redundancies on staff. Mr John Swift, branch secretary of SIPTU's insurance and finance branch, said yesterday the action was unprecedented but followed a second attempt by the management to make a staff member redundant.

First Active stated last night that it was following industrial relations procedures agreed with SIPTU, "including referring the matter to a Rights Commissioner for investigation".

Mr Swift said that members would be balloted between Monday and Friday, and the result would be known that evening.