Striking trade union members across health, civil service, PSNI and private sector will rally at Belfast City Hall tomorrow [Friday]

When: 12.30pm Friday 22^nd September 2023

Where: Belfast City Hall, Belfast

The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is hosting a ‘Workers Demand Better’ rally tomorrow at Belfast City Hall to demand improved pay and adequate budgets for public services. The event marks the second day of coordinated strike action by public sector workers in health, the civil service, PSNI and college lecturers. The rally will be joined by private sector workers, including Unite members from Vista Therm who are now on their eighth week of strike action, in a show of solidarity for their public sector colleagues.

Speaking ahead of the rally, Susan Fitzgerald, Unite Regional Secretary said:

“The current wave of strike actions by public sector workers is coordinated and demonstrates the power of working-class people when they stand together.

“Public sector workers are not just striking to defend pay but to ensure an ability to recruit and retain those needed to provide vital public services. Low pay and the resulting staffing crisis only opens up public services to privatisation and outsourcing. The strike of public sector workers is a strike to defend public services. 

“The rally will be joined by private sector workers, including those on strike at Vista Therm in Craigavon, who have mobilised to show their solidarity for other striking workers. I’ve no doubt that they will receive a rapturous welcome from one and all for their campaign for respect in the face of brutal union-busting tactics.

“Tomorrow’s rally is an opportunity for everyone to get behind our public sector workers and to demand proper funding of our vital public services. I encourage everyone who can make it to attend, bring their trade union banner or flag and show their support.”