Disruption expected as thousands take to the picket lines

THOUSANDS of public sector workers will take to the picket lines at local schools, health facilities and other sites today (Thursday) as part of the largest mass strike action across the North in almost 50 years.

The struggling workers are taking to the streets as they campaign for pay parity with their counterparts in England, Wales and Scotland.

With up to around 80 per-cent of the public sector on strike, widespread disruption to services is expected throughout the day.

Dozens of local schools will be closed, the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex will operate under Christmas Day arrangements, while Department for Infrastructure workers at Arvalee and bus drivers will also take part in the 24-hour stoppage.

The Department for Infrastructure is advising people not to travel unless essential, due to a yellow weather warning for snow and ice and disruption to the road gritting service.

A protest march in Omagh will convene at the Crevenagh Road Park and Share before proceeding to the town centre for a rally at the courthouse at lunchtime. The PSNI has urged the public and motorists to seek alternative routes around that time.

Among those participating will be Stephanie Kennedy, a classroom assistant at the Holy Family Primary School.

FEARS

She told the UlsteHerald of her fears for children with special needs if the long-running pay dispute isn’t resolved soon.

“We can’t get qualified people to fill the posts. Unqualified people are being brought in to do our jobs,” she said.

“There is so much responsibility for classroom assistants. For the medical classroom assistants, it’s a life or death situation when caring for some children and the pay is just above the minimum wage at £12.08 an hour.

“This is a massive responsibility for such a low amount of money. What we’re facing is just so frustrating. This strike is a last resort for us.

“The children are suffering. Many of them need the school routine, and it’s being messed up. For others, school is their only break from the home environment and might be the only time that they get a hot meal during the day. It might be the only place where they are safe.”

NI Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, has said that a new funding package is dependent on the restoration of the Stormont Executive. However, the DUP, who are currently blocking the return of the Executive due to their concerns over the Windsor Framework, say Mr Heaton-Harris has the power to release the money to resolve the pay disputes and should do so now.

Omagh Trades Council has called today’s strike of public sector workers an expression of mass anger and accused the Secretary of State of playing political games with workers’ pay.,

“Trade unionists are striking on behalf of the whole community. They are defending public services,” said secretary, Anton McCabe.