A mass protest at Belfast City Hall today saw a tsunami of trade union supporters gather to voice their opposition againt austerity cuts in the public sector. Many trade unions such as Unison, Unite, NIPSA, INTO and GMB were involved from sectors such as transport, education and health.
As the industrial action bit across Northern Ireland, there were pickets in most main towns and outside public service centres as staff took the day off without pay and protested.
[caption id="attachment_55433" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
The picket outside the front gate of the Downe Hospital in Downpatrick.[/caption]
In Downpatrick, Translink staff stood outside their locked gate in Market Street, and there were pickets outside Rathkeltair House, St Mary’s High School, Blackwater Integrated College, but the main protest was outside the Downshire Estate fron gates. There was a meeting of supporters at the front gates of the Downe Hospital at 1pm and a number of speeches galvanised the supporters in a more positive mood.
Whilst the DUP is pointing a finger at Sinn Féin, other parties have expressed their positions. The DUP and UUP both do not support the idea of the strike, and Alliance basically believe it will not benefit the situation at all. The SDLP are backing the workers in their strike action.
[caption id="attachment_55434" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
The picket outside Blackwater Integrated College.[/caption]
Marion Ritichie, UNISON Area Branch Secretary for the Down and Lisburn Area, said: “It is good today to see the public service sector coming out in such strong support. The civil service, hospitals, schools and other public offices have seen staff take the day off without pay and give their time to support this strike. Even the public sector transport workers in Translink are behind us today.
“The Health Minister Jim Wells has offered health staff a derisory 1% increase which in effect will only benefit those on the top payband. Public service staff have not had a pay rose for almost five years. This amounts to a virtual pay cut if you take inflation into it. What we have been offered in the health service is well below inflation.
“Many workers from this area are travelling to Belfast for the lunch-time rally at City Hall. Those who are not travelling are continuing the protest locally.”
[caption id="attachment_55435" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
Ulsterbus staff pictured at their front gate on the strike picket in Downpatrick.[/caption]
And speaking to the workers gathered outside the entrance to the Downe Hospital, Marion Ritchie added: “They seem to have plenty of money for themselves up at Stormont, but none of its is coming down to us. So we totally oppose the austerity cuts. Our message to the politicians up in Stormont is quite simple: ‘It’s time to get this sorted out once and for all!’ “
***
Eamonn McGrady, Chairman of the Down Community Health Committee, said that his group fully backed the strike and he added: “The workers deserve a decent pay rise today and I would urge the mandarins up in Stormont to take heed of this protest.
“If the public sector unions and workers can come together as we have done today, then we can make really make a difference. Some people may say that it will not make any difference in having a strike today. Let me say that when the public sector joins with the community and other sections of our society then the real power will be there to make a big difference.
[caption id="attachment_55436" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
Eamonn McGrady, Down Community Health Committee chairman, Cllr Terry Andrews, Marion Ritchie, secretary of the Down and Lisburn UNISON branch, SéŽan Rogers MLA, and Down District Council chairman Cllr Billy Walker at the public sector cuts’ protest in Downpatrick.[/caption]
“And a lot of politicians will be looking over their shoulders over the next few weeks coming up to the Westminster election. We elected them and they should be accountable to us.
“We need proper health services with workers secure in their jobs and work conditions. Behind us is the £65million Downe Hospital built six years ago with now less than fifty beds and services disappearing from it. Whatever happened to our NHS with care from the cradle to the grave?
[caption id="attachment_55437" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
Cllr Billy Walker addresses the supports at the picket in Downpatrick outside the front door of the Downe Hospital.[/caption]
“Your community must now stand up to these cuts and you must make your voice heard. Today I just would like to say this to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service: a week ago an 90-year old woman lay on the pavement for 90 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. The NIAS early this morning called an emergency in that they could not cope with the current situation. They should have called an emergency a week ago when that old woman fell on the pavement.
“These cuts are affecting everyone across the board, our education, our health services, our transport.
“Transforming Your Care is falling to pieces, and the Donaldson report seems content with the fact that four major hospotals in Belfast cover 22% of the polulation whilst the rural areas suffer.
“At lot of us are really frustrated at the performance of Stormont politicians in not delivering basic welfare and public services and not understanding that we are suffering.
“The Down Community Health Committee stands behind you in addressing these issues.”
***
Councilor Billy Walker, Chairman of Down District Council, said: “This really has all started off in Westminster with the government. The issue is around the block grant and the Conservatives cutting into it.
“It always seems to be our problem and never something they have created. I have faced up to the Health MInister and others over health cuts to do with the Downe Hospital. This is my hospital too. I need it as much as you. I’ve also met the campaigners over recent years and months and I have always supported decent wages and proper services. It is time the government in Westminster listened to the people.”
***
[caption id="attachment_55440" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
Heads together: Eamonn McGrady, Chairman of the Down Community Health Committee, right, with South Down MLA SÂŽan Rogers.[/caption]
Séan Rogers MLA (SDLP), said: “I am one of those politicians up at Stormont and I too am frustrated at the process and lack of progress on welfare and health.
“I have had the pleasure of being a patient in the health service here and appreciate what it is doing and it basically saved my life.
“You have to continue your campaign of protest. It cannot end here today. There are many vulnerable people who cannot get to Belfast to attend these hospitals so far away. I’m not surprised people are fundamentally frustrated.
“We can work with the people in our community and this protest can grow. That is what we have to do to win our struggle against unfairness.”
]]>
