A ‘hardship crisis’ emergency meeting of more than 60 anti-poverty campaigners, community organisations, students, trade unionists and political representatives from across the North called for immediate action by the Stormont Executive to protect people amidst a cost of living crisis and for a reordering of Stormont priorities.
The meeting backed a 1pm protest at Stormont next Tuesday, December 14, demanding no Stormont Assembly recess until action is taken to protect people facing extreme hardship and called for further coordinated action across the north in the New Year.
The final full Stormont Assembly sitting is scheduled for next Tuesday 14.
Shaun Harkin, a protest organiser and Derry and Strabane Cllr, said: “We are urging people to back the protest at Stormont next Tuesday to make a direct call on the Executive to declare a hardship emergency.
“If there’s no action on hardship – there should be no Stormont holiday recess.
“How can they go on holiday when families, individuals and children might have the lights and heat turned off during Christmas?
“The Executive should immediately put in place protections for the growing numbers of people who are being hammered by spiraling energy costs, the cut to Universal Credit, below inflation real term pay cuts and other rising costs.
“This is no longer a question of heat or eat. Many families won’t be able to do either. Food banks are overwhelmed and advice services are under immense strain.
“The last full Assembly sitting is scheduled for Tuesday 14 of December.
“If the Executive hasn’t put emergency protections in place for people facing extreme hardship MLAs shouldn’t be going on holiday.
“We are committed to a coordinated and sustained campaign across the north for a fundamental reordering of government priorities.”
Link to Stormont Protest 1pm Tuesday 14 December: https://fb.me/e/3VYSLBHa4
The Hardship Crisis meeting on 1 December was addressed by Bernadette McAliskey (South Tyrone Empowerment Project), Aidan Campbell, (Rural Community Network), Albert Hewitt, (Unite Community), Fiona McCausland (NI Anti-Poverty Network), Niall McCarroll (Derry Trades Union Council), Marissa McMahon (Participation and Practice of Rights/Belfast); Sinead Quinn (Right to Work/Derry) and Grian Ní Dhaimhín (Union of Students in Ireland).
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