People Before Profit Councillor Maeve O’Neill said has called for support for Housing Executive workers striking over a cost of living pay rise.
Said Cllr O’Neill: “Housing Executive maintenance workers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. It’s unacceptable that any of them working full-time are going to food banks.
“We have joined Housing Executive workers on the picket lines in Derry and Belfast.
“The lack of support and even recognition of their strike by all the big parties is astounding.
“We are bringing forward a motion to this week’s full meeting of Derry and Strabane Council calling for all parties and Councillors to back the strike.
“The HE is an organisation that plays a vital role that we want to preserve and expand to end the housing crisis. Central to protecting the HE is making sure its workforce is treated fairly.
“HE bosses recently found millions to increase payments to contractors who walked away from contracts. They can do the same for workers.
“The Sinn Féin DfC Minister should have been off her hands long ago and intervening directly with the HE to make sure workers demands for cost of living help are met.
“We need less talk about supporting workers and cost of living help – and more action.”
People Before Profit Cllr Maeve O’Neill motion to Derry City and Strabane District Council meeting on Thursday, October 27:
“Council is aware of the tremendous pressures on the NIHE and has repeatedly voiced our full appreciation for its day-in, day-out work across our District.
“Council wants the best for Housing Executive tenants and wants to see the HE return as our main social housing builder to end the housing crisis in our District – we also expect our Housing Executive workers to be treated properly and paid fairly.
“Council supports Housing Executive maintenance workers who have been forced to take prolonged strike action for a cost of living pay rise.
“Council notes how Housing Executive management recently found funding to increase payments to independent contractors by 30%.
“Council backs the call of Unite the Union for the DfC Minister to directly intervene and make sure workers receive fair treatment and a cost of living pay rise.
“Council will invite a Unite representative to a meeting of Council to update on their strike for improved pay and terms and conditions.”
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