Mark H Durkan and SDLP colleagues joined the picket line in Derry on Tuesday to support striking nurses
Nurses across the North of Ireland, England and Wales and went on strike on yesterday with potential strike action proposed for January if a resolution cannot be reached.
Ambulance workers and other health staff will strike today, Wednesday, December 21.
Said the Foyle MLA: “Health workers are paying the price for political dysfunction and deadlock.
“After joining health staff on the picket lines this month, their frustration and the impact the state of play within the health service is currently having on morale, is palpable.
“It’s saddening and certainly maddening, that the fight for fair pay within the health service continues to go unresolved.
“Warnings were not heeded, an adequate pay deal was not secured and now the health workforce have been pushed to potential strike action against the backdrop of a cost of living emergency.
“For over a decade, experts have demanded urgent transformation for Northern Ireland’s health service in order to stabilise a crisis hit NHS.
“Bengoa recommendations weren’t actioned and issues were allowed to snowball, bringing a health system to its knees.
“This crisis didn’t happen overnight and its outrageous that the selfless passion of health workers continues to be punished with a bad deal.
“Enough is enough. Health staff deserve better.”
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