People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin
Said Cllr Harkin: “People Before Profit will be calling on political establishment parties at today’s full Council meeting to condemn attempts to scapegoat workers for inflation and to send a clear message of unanimous support for trade union action for cost of living pay increases.
“The vast majority of people across our society have been left to weather the cost of living crisis without any government help at all.
“The hardship help Westminster and Stormont have been forced to implement has been meagre and entirely inadequate. There’s been no willingness to push for price and profit caps.
“We have been told the nonsense that workers wage caps are necessary to stop inflation.
“RMT leader Mick Lynch has brilliantly punctured these Tory lies. Corporate profiteering is a central driver of rising costs, not workers wages.
“In the face of government failure to rein in prices and profits, workers in the private, public and community sectors are making demands for above inflation pay rises and balloting for strike action.
“BT Group and Royal Mail bosses epitomise the hypocrisy of the corporate elite.
“BT Group made a profit of £1.3B last year. They handed shareholders £750 million and massively increased pay for their CEO and top management but told BT, EE and Openreach workers to accept a miserly way below inflation wage offer.
“Royal Mail bosses handed shareholders £400M last year and but told workers all was on offer was a real terms pay cut.
“This treatment is unacceptable and, as a result, workers at Royal Mail, BT, EE and Openreach have all balloted for industrial action.”
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin’s motion to June Derry and Strabane District Council full meeting:
“Council opposes claims by Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Bank of England chief Andrew Bailey that workers pay is responsible for rising costs.
“Council condemns the decision by Royal Mail bosses and BT Group bosses to impose real terms pay cuts on its workforce while inflation is running at above 11%.
“Council notes the £400M payout to shareholders by Royal Mail in 2021 and BT Group’s annual profit of £1.3B.
“Council supports the rejection of below inflation wage proposals contributing to a hardship emergency crisis by Royal Mail, BT, EE and Openreach workers and their union, the Communication Workers Union.
“Council urges all residents across our District to back the demands of Royal Mail, BT, EE and Openreach workers for cost of living crisis pay rises and pledges its full support to all action, including industrial, workers and their union are forced to take.
“Council will write to Royal Mail and BT Group bosses to convey our anger at their treatment of its workforce, who include our District residents, and to express our support for workers’ demands. Council will invite CWU representatives for a presentation to members.”
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