Trade Unions chiefs today defended a one-day strike staged by health workers in Belfast against allegations that it was inspired by sectarianism.
Services across north and west Belfast were severely disrupted when almost 1,000 staff walked out after a social worker in the area received a death threat from loyalists.
However, a row broke out when a north Belfast MLA condemned the stoppage and accused its organisers, the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, of sectarianism.
The Progressive Unionist Party's Billy Hutchinson said: "I am fed up with the unions taking decisions which are on a whim and which are from one side of the community and not the other.
"Now what I am saying is that the only people going to be affected here today are those people who need the services of the North and West Trust and their families."
Mr Kevin Lawrenson, the trade union's officer for north and west Belfast, said members were furious that its action had been described as sectarian.
He said: "We are very saddened and disappointed by Billy Hutchinson's comments. We see it simply as party political point-scoring.
"We have a proud history of condemning all forms of sectarianism from whatever quarter and there is a lot of anger at his comments."
More than 300 union members gathered at the Trade and General Workers' Union house in Belfast city centre at 1 p.m. for a protest rally.
The protest, which called for an end to all sectarianism, was sparked after a member of staff received a bullet in the post claiming to be from loyalist paramilitaries.
The meeting began with a minute's silence in memory of David Caldwell, the civilian workman killed in the bomb attack on a Territorial Army base in Derry.
Support for the industrial action was described as "significant" as 10 out of 13 day care centres in the affected areas were forced to close.
Mr Lawrenson described the one-day action as a "tremendous success".
"Staff have been very supportive and have really come out in force," he said.
A spokeswoman for the North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, which administers social services in the area, said all 13 day care centres opened this morning but 10 were forced to close because of a lack of staff.
However, she added: "All other facilities are working as usual and all health centres and offices are open.
"Residential care and domiciliary care are also being provided as usual."
Earlier, the Loyalist Commission, an umbrella organisation which includes representatives from the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force, assured the trust neither of these paramilitary organisations were behind the threat.
PA