Éirígí Backs Striking ABC Council Workers
Éirígí For A New Republic spokesperson, Breandán Mac Cionnaith, has expressed support for over 1,000 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council workers who have been on strike since August 15th.
Speaking from Portadown, Mac Cionnaith said, “Eírígí recognise the important work that council workers perform and also recognise their right to fair pay and decent working conditions. This dispute has been ongoing since August 15th, with no resolution in sight.
On one side we have the Unite, NIPSA and GMB trade unions seeking a fair deal for their members, and on the other, we have council management which has thus far resisted the reasonable demands of the workers. Over 1,000 workers, including many refuse collectors, are currently involved in this industrial action.
Rubbish has been piling up on the streets of the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council area as the council refuse to grant workers the pay increase they need
Oftentimes, the value of workers is not appreciated until their labour is withdrawn. Since this strike began over four weeks ago, we have bins overflowing, an increase in fly-tipping; and reports of medical waste bins full to the brim. It is simply not acceptable that the management of ABC Council have allowed things to get to this point.
Éirígí firmly believes in proper funding of robust, efficient, public services. The general public deserve better public services than they are currently receiving, and public sector workers deserve fair wages and decent working conditions.
This is even more important as we face into an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis. Éirígí is urging ABC Council to reach a fair settlement with their workers to allow them to continue to provide vital services to their community.
Ineffective even when operational, Stormont has been a state of collapse since February 2022
Of course, we cannot separate the issue of funding for public services from the inherent instability of the Six County state, best demonstrated by the dysfunction of the Stormont Assembly which has been in a state of suspension for the three and a half of the last five years.
Ultimately, this all comes back to partition and how it has failed the Irish people, North and South. Fair pay and decent working conditions for all workers can only be achieved through reunification and the creation of a New Republic which will prioritise the rights of workers. I would encourage anyone who agrees with our analysis to join Éirígi and the fight for a New Republic.”