150,000 public sector staff walk out in North
Striking workers demand pay awards and seek an end to Stormont impasse
THOUSANDS of public sector workers have taken to the streets across the North in the biggest strike action in the region’s recent history.
A mass rally in Belfast heard calls for Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to release pay awards for workers and also for the DUP to end its boycott of Stormont.
An estimated 150,000 public sector workers took part in the walkouts over pay, with trade unions warning that action will escalate in the future if their pay demands are not met.
Mr Heaton-Harris has been urged to intervene to release funding to make delayed pay awards in the absence of devolved government. He has refused, saying the matter is a devolved one.
Following early morning pickets at hospitals, schools and public buildings yesterday, a number of feeder parades marched towards Belfast City Hall where a large crowd gathered for a rally addressed by multiple trade unions representatives.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) assistant general secretary Gerry Murphy called on Mr Heaton-Harris to end his ‘failed political strategy’ and award a pay increase to workers. Linda Millar, a teacher at Ballyclare Secondary School in Co. Antrim, said she was joining the picket lines to help achieve pay parity with the rest of the UK.
She said: ‘We are losing teachers left, right and centre to Doha, Dubai, everywhere. The education system is crumbling. Our buildings are crumbling.’
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long met striking workers at the Ulster Hospital and said political instability at Stormont had contributed to public sector fragility in the North.
In a statement, Mr Heaton-Harris said it was ‘regrettable’ that the Stormont Assembly had not been resurrected to access funds to make the pay awards to public sector workers.
Midnight last night marked the deadline in current legislation for the resumption of Stormont; otherwise the Northern Secretary is obliged to call a fresh election.
However, Mr Heaton-Harris has made clear that he will extend that deadline and introduce further legislation to ensure continued delivery of public services in the North.
‘This strike will be disruptive for people across Northern Ireland,’ he commented. ‘I understand the serious concerns that people across Northern Ireland have about the impact this action will have on vital public services.’
Mr Heaton-Harris added: ‘While public sector pay is devolved, the UK government has offered a fair and generous package worth over £3billion which would address public sector pay and provides more than £1billion to stabilise public services.
‘This will require ministers being back to work in Stormont so that decisions on governing can be taken in the round.’
‘Disruptive for people’