People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin
Said Foyleside Councillor Shaun Harkin: “Education workers are being treated disgracefully.
“Unite, NIPSA, Unison and the GMB issued a joint statement advising their members of industrial action.
“People Before Profit fully endorse this and pledge our support.
“We’ve reached the point where the threat of strike action is the only language government Ministers and employers understand.
“Despite claims to the contrary, the dismal treatment of education workers reflects the disregard Stormont has for our children’s education.
“The DUP Education Minister advised trade unions that while he supported their pay claim, there was no money available to meet it.
“These are not new pay claims. They are not outrageous demands. Other public servants won pay rises, yet non teaching education workers face being passed over again.
“These workers are the lowest paid and hardest worked, it is outrageous that they are being told that there is no money for a pay rise.
“We are told that all the Executive Parties support the Pay and Grading Review, yet the same parties say they cannot pay workers?
“We were told that things would get much better when Stormont returned, clearly for education workers and other people struggling to make ends meet this is not the case.
“If education workers do not get what they are owed they are absolutely right to go on strike and we call on the people of Derry to support them on the picket lines.”
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