Second wave of consultations on harsh ‘revenue raising’ programme are published by departments at the demand of the secretary of state

Unite the union has told the secretary of state for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris that workers will not accept the punitive ‘revenue-raising’ measures he is pushing. The new measures include overturning agreed Stormont policy to end car parking charges at hospitals, introducing water rates on domestic homeowners, removing the cap on university tuition fees and introducing both care charges and prescription charges.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham “Heaton-Harris is seeking to impose what amount to a tidal wave of attacks on workers and the wider community.

“Attempts to ratchet up the suffering of workers and the vulnerable are despicable and will be met with broad resistance from unions and local communities.”

Irish regional secretary Susan Fitzgerald said: “Heaton-Harris has no democratic mandate to impose such punitive proposals. His proposals will only redouble pressures on households who are already barely surviving what is a brutal cost of living crisis and who live in the lowest paid part of these islands.

“Heaton-Harris needs to comprehend that workers are standing up for themselves and striking back. There is now escalating strike action as workers are resolved to win improved pay and proper funding of public services.”