Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘PLAY FAIR ON PAY’9
SDLP demand health service gets 1% hike
AN SDLP delegation is to meet top civil servants today to “urge the immediate release” of money for a health service workers pay rise.
The move comes amid mounting tensions over £26million set aside to give staff a 1% hike, which senior civil servants say they cannot release without a minister in place.
The raise was awarded in April and has seen a small increase in pay packets for workers across the UK – except for Northern Ireland.
Civil Service bosses insist the money can’t be paid while Stormont is suspended, however Unison has claimed it can be, insisting not doing so could be seen as “illegal deduction of earnings”.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, SDLP health spokesman Mark H Durkan said the party “believes not another day should go by without these workers receiving their long-awaited pay rise”. He added: “Once we became aware the money for the rise could be allocated by the NI Civil Service, the SDLP contacted its head so this matter could be resolved.
“Today we will be urging the head of the Civil Service and permanent secretary for health to immediately release the additional money to give these workers the pay rise they deserve.
“Across the public sector people are being denied fair pay. This cannot continue. We will be making the case not only for health workers but for all to get a fairer deal.
“All political parties now must unite and make government here work.
“The British Tory Government certainly won’t save our public services and protect our public sector workers. It’s down to us and it’s about time all parties lived up to their responsibilities.”
In a statement released over the weekend, Unison said it had written to Civil Service chief David Sterling “calling for the release of £26million earmarked for payment of the 1% pay uplift”. Spokeswoman Anne Speed added: “This is pay outstanding that has in fact been earned for the past nine months by health workers and withholding payment could be viewed as an illegal deduction of earnings. “We expect this matter to be resolved without further delay.” The Department of Finance also offered some hope of a breakthrough, saying “consideration is being given as to how this issue can be resolved as soon as possible”. THIS is the abandoned courthouse a charity wants to turn into an arts hub.
Organisers of the Open House Festival in Bangor, Co Down, hope to transform the building into a permanent venue.
Last month they launched a crowdfunding scheme to raise £30,000 to help realise their dream.
Festival director Kieran Gilmore told the Mirror: “We are trying to be the first ever Community Asset Transfer in Northern Ireland.
“It is quite common in England and Wales when a government building is transferred to a community organisation for public good.”
The plan is to get in on a short-term lease, do the basic repairs, and start using it as soon as possible for regular events and activities.
After an initial 18-month lease, festival organisers aim to acquire full ownership and restore the former magistrates court building to its former glory.
Built in 1866 as a branch of the then Belfast Bank, it became a courthouse in the 1950s and is one of few remaining Victorian structures on Bangor seafront.
Kieran added: “It has so much potential. There’s a car park out the back which used to be a garden when this was a bank but we could use it for artisan markets and other great events.
“It is wasted space in Bangor at the moment.
“There’s a lot of space and we could have exhibitions or do little tours.
“We have just submitted a complex application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £700,000 to fully restore it.”
To make a donation to the project go to www.openhousebangor.com.