Strike Action Taken Across NI

Public sector workers in Northern Ireland are taking part in a one-day strike across the UK today.

The action involves tens of thousands of people across the regions, including civil servants, teachers and local government staff.

In all, six unions are striking in Northern Ireland: NIPSA, UNISON, UNITE, GMB, SIPTU, and PCS.

The action is being taken over disputes with the government regarding pay, pensions and working conditions. The unions say council staff have experienced below inflation pay rises or wage freezes every year since the coalition came to power.

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: "This government’s ceaseless attacks on our public service workers is misguided and finds no favour with the public. They can see through this bullying for what it is – an attempt to turn friends and neighbours against the good people who care for their kids, keep their streets clean and run our valued community services, and they are not buying it.

"The public has no appetite for the government’s belittling of public sector workers, and certainly none whatsoever for the Tories’ threat to remove the right to strike action.

"People understand that poverty pay and inequality are on the rise in this country. The rich get richer while working poor turn to food banks because in Tory-led Britain the fate for ordinary people is to work harder but get poorer. People value local public services and they don’t want to see those that provide them struggling to make ends meet to feed and clothe their families."

(IT/CD)