Unions to host mass demonstration in Omagh

A MASS demonstration will take place in Omagh later this month, with public sector staff uniting to demand better pay and working conditions.

Due to be held outside Omagh Courthouse on January 18, the rally is a joint initiative by all the major public sector unions who have warned that they will continue to ramp up industrial action.

Inclusive of healthcare and education workers, the onus of the demonstration is centred on pay parity with others in England, Scotland and Wales.

Healthcare staff in the North received a below-inflation pay award for 2022-23 whilst colleagues in England received a five percent increase and a one-payment of at least £1,655.

Teachers here have not had a pay rise for nearly three years, with a new teacher salary currently standing at just over £24,000 a year. That remains well below Scotland (£32,000), England (£30,000) and Wales (£31,000).

Speaking to the Tyrone Herald this week, the joint chair of the Omagh and Fermanagh Unison Branch Andy McKane said that workers are becoming ‘increasingly frustrated’ at the lack of investment in the public sector. He said if the status quo continues mass resignations could take place among both health workers and teaching staff.

Mr McKane said, “Public sector workers feel incredibly undervalued and we are sick of the pass-the-buck attitude of MLAs and the Secretary of State of who is to blame for the lack of investment currently in public services.

“Workers in Northern Ireland should not be earning less than their counterparts in the rest of the UK. Morale is at an all-time low and workers are fed up and are becoming increasingly frustrated that we are not being listened to.”

Mr McKane added, “If there is not an increase in pay and work conditions don’t improve we will see a lot more people leaving public sector work for better pay in the private sector.”

As things stand, the Department of Health said they are not in a position to make a formal pay offer.

Also commenting on the mass demonstration was the principal of St Patrick’s PS in Newtownstewart Peter Torney. He is the Tyrone Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO).

Mr Torney said, “The INTO is still steadfast in our aim to ensure that teachers earn pay parity with staff in England, Scotland and Wales.

“We hope politicians here can solve their differences as quickly as possible and and get the public sector spending issues solved before January 18. However, if they don’t, we will continue to ramp up industrial action.”

The Department for Education has said that an improved budget is needed before any pay rise can be made to teachers at this time.

A Department for Education spokesperson said, “Active engagement has been taking place for many months between the management side and teachers’ side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee on a teachers’ pay settlement for 2021/22 and 2022/23.

“The trade unions are fully aware that the Public Sector Pay Policy requires that a pay offer can only be made if it is affordable within the allocated budget.”