Sinn Féin TD for Waterford Conor D. McGuinness has called on Government to urgently engage with trade unions and secure a fair pay deal for the 400,000 public sector workers across the State, as hundreds of thousands of workers take strike action today.
McGuinness said Government must act in good faith to resolve the dispute, warning that workers are being left worse off as the cost of living continues to rise. He said Minister Jack Chambers needs to get to grips with the dispute and engage constructively with unions.
“The unions have been clear that this is a dispute about pay first and foremost. They want to negotiate on pay, but Government is refusing to engage constructively and is insisting that every other aspect of the pay agreement must be settled first.
“Our teachers, nurses, SNAs, local authority staff, and public servants deserve better. Workers across our health service, our schools, our local authorities and the wider public service keep essential services running every day. They should not have to resort to strike action to secure a fair pay deal.
“Inflation is running at 4.1%, while public sector workers face a pay increase of just 2% in the absence of an agreement. That means workers are losing ground in real terms.
“Families and households are under enormous pressure. Poverty is increasing, more households are falling into arrears on their bills, and even couples earning good wages are struggling to cover the basics.
“Last week’s Budget was ‘gone before you get it’ for many working families. The Government can talk about putting money in people’s pockets, but that means little when the cost of electricity, heating, housing and the weekly shop continues to rise.
“Government is either blind to the reality of this cost-of-living crisis or, worse, indifferent to it. We see that in Minister Jack Chambers’ refusal to get to grips with this pay dispute and deliver a fair deal for public sector workers.
“There is money in this economy. Government should be looking to those places where wealth is concentrated and ensuring that banks, large landlords and investment funds pay their fair share, rather than leaving ordinary workers to carry the burden.
“Minister Chambers needs to get around the table with the unions, negotiate in good faith and resolve this dispute urgently. The priority must be a fair deal that protects workers’ living standards against the rising cost of living.”
McGuinness has been meeting with workers on picket lines across Waterford city and county today, alongside the wider Sinn Féin team, to show support for those taking strike action and offer his solidarity.