PEOPLE Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin has said that resistance is the only way to stop the Stormont Executive from implementing Tory health heroes pay insult
Said the Derry politician: “It’s crucial we turn-up the heat on the Stormont Executive to stop it from imposing Boris Johnson’s insulting real terms pay cut on our health heroes.
“I joined a health workers protest at Stormont last week organised by UNISON.
“The mood among health workers is angry. With inflation at close to 4% and rising – 3% amounts to a cut.
“It’s an ocean away from what health workers are demanding and deserve.
“At the full Council meeting I challenged all Executive parties – Sinn Féin, SDLP, DUP, Alliance and UUP – on how their MLAs on the Stormont Health Committee could vote against a motion opposing the the imposition of Johnson’s pathetic 3% offer?
“They couldn’t answer.
“The hypocrisy is that all the Executive parties voted in the Council in favour of a People Before Profit motion explicitly telling the Executive not to implement insulting Tory pay plans that are being resisted by trade unions.
“The way health workers are being treated by the Tories and Stormont Executive is a disgrace.
“As the UNISON poster says, they’ve went from ‘being clapped to getting slapped’ by the political establishment.
“This will further demoralise our health workers who’ve been stretched to the limit over the last year and a half.
“This paltry treatment will also undermine efforts to protect the health service. And that’s why this is a crucial issue for everyone who depends on the health service.
“From Universal Credit cuts, massive energy price hikes, new taxes and pay cuts – the vast majority of people are getting trampled over by Westminster and Stormont.
“It’s clear now that the only way to stop the Tories and Stormont Executive from insulting our health heroes and destroying the health service is resistance and action.
“The time for politely playing by the political establishment’s rules is over,” added Cllr Harkin.
Tags: