SDLP Health and Mental Wellbeing spokesman Mark H Durkan has welcomed the the announcement by permanent secretary Hugh Widdis that public sector workers will receive their long awaited pay rise, describing it as “progress”.The Foyle MLA said: “I am delighted that at long last the Civil Service has listened to the representations made by the SDLP and has agreed to give a pay rise to our public sector workers.
“The SDLP has campaigned tirelessly alongside these workers and their unions to champion their cause for fairer pay.
“While, there is still a long way to go in terms of delivering a fairer deal for workers, this move today must be welcomed as progress.
“I will be meeting directly with the Head of the Civil Service to ascertain the detail on how and when this payment will be made to workers.
“Public sector workers are the backbone of community, we have a responsibility to ensure that they are given a fairer deal,” added Mr Durkan.
