DUP boycott denying a pay rise to health and social care workers

Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson (Sinn Féin) has said the DUP should end its boycott of the Assembly and stop denying a pay rise to health and social care workers. 

Ms Ferguson  was speaking as the Chief Executives of the North’s Health and Social Care Trusts penned a joint letter warning of the impact Thursday’s strike action will have on services.

She 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.”