‘Stop using workers as pawns’ - Pressure continues to grow on Northern Ireland Secretary for pay deal ahead of strike day

PRESSURE to reach a pay deal continues to grow for the Northern Ireland Secretary ahead of one of the largest days of strike action in recent history.

After stark warnings to Chris Heaton-Harris from health bosses and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady this week, an education union has now called for teachers to show their “discontent” on Thursday.

Mark McTaggart from the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), which represents over 7,000 members in Northern Ireland, said that public service workers were sick of being treated like “pawns” while Stormont sits idle.

“The Secretary of State has made it clear that funds are available to bring about a fair pay settlement for our members and yet he and the DUP appear content to play a game of tug of war with it while workers struggle to make ends meet,” he said.

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“I have said it before and I say it again, a just Public Sector pay solution cannot be dependent on the action or inaction of any politician or political party.”

On Monday, Mr Heaton-Harris said a financial package worth over £3bn – which includes nearly £600m to resolve public sector pay claims - remained conditional on reforming the executive.

“The industrial action taken by the unions will disrupt the lives of many people across Northern Ireland,” he said, adding that public sector remained a devolved matter.

“If an Executive has not been reformed by Friday, then, as I say, I will have various decisions to make and I will set out my next steps in due course,” he said.

As well as the significant disruption expected for the health service on Thursday, the Department of Infrastructure has also warned the public against making unnecessary journeys as the cold weather continues.

Gritting services are to be affected for a week as members of the GMB and Unite unions continue with industrial action.

On Monday, Ms Brady wrote to the Northern Ireland Secretary, stating that “urgent action is required to address unacceptable public sector pay disparity.”

“You have publicly stated that the UK Government cannot, and will not, stand by and allow public services and finances to decline further,” she said.

“This Thursday will represent the single biggest day of industrial action in a generation, reflecting the strength of feeling and deteriorating, and frankly untenable, position we are now in.”