'Pay workers what they are owed' – Cllr Shaun Harkin

A Derry City and Strabane District councillor has called for workers to be paid what they are owed and stop the stealth health service privatisation.

Councillor Shaun Harkin (PBP) said: “The Stormont Executive is once again punishing Health and Social Care workers by refusing to implement pay parity with their colleagues in the NHS.

“Speaking to workers at Altnagelvin Hospital and in the Western Trust, I can say that assurances from the Minister and commitments from Sinn Féin, Alliance and the DUP mean nothing when workers do not see needed increases in their pay checks that have been agreed.

“Pay parity is a bare minimum that doesn’t account for wage increases that would keep up with inflation and make-up for years of pay cuts.

“The Stormont Executive's disrespect is humiliating for healthcare workers. The disregard breeds anger and cynicism.

“If the Stormont Executive was serious about rebuilding the capacity of our healthcare service, they would prioritise making sure workers are paid properly and what they are owed on time.

“Instead of paying our healthcare workers, the Stormont Executive oversees the siphoning out of hundreds of millions of public funds into private healthcare profits.

“Putting all the blame on Westminster is deflection when the Executive itself is greenlighting stealth privatisation of the healthcare service.

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“Once again, healthcare trade unions are preparing for industrial action.

“Workers are fighting for wages that allow them to keep their heads above water, but they are also fighting to stop the Stormont Executive from completely destroying the health service.

“People Before Profit fully back the trade union demand for pay parity and will stand with our healthcare workers if they decide to take action.

“We also demand an end to the stealth privatisation of the health service that's harming workers and patients."