DUP Urged To End Boycott And Facilitate Pay Increases

Sinn Féin has renewed its call for the DUP to end its boycott of the Northern Ireland Assembly and "stop denying a pay rise to health and social care workers".

Linda Dillon made the call as the Chief Executives of the north's Health and Social Care Trusts have written a joint letter warning of the impact Thursday's strike action will have on services.

The party's health spokesperson said: "Health workers are being denied a pay rise as a result of the DUP's blockade of the Assembly which has left a wide range of public sector workers in a position where they are taking strike action.

"They do not want to take this action, but they have been forced to do so. Their focus and priority is working on the frontline and caring for those in need.

"The DUP can still do the right thing; they can elect a Speaker at Wednesday's recall of the Assembly and form an Executive to deliver the pay rise that our health and social care workers are entitled to.

"They can stop workers standing on picket lines in the freezing cold and snow. They can stop the 'massive and unprecedented' impact the strike action will have on health services.

"They should do this without delay. It is decision time for the DUP and Jeffrey Donaldson. It's time for positive leadership.

"Healthcare workers can't continue to be left in the lurch any longer."