Unite workers, pictured speaking to BBC News NI’s Sarah Brett, are involved in strike action on Thursday
More than 100,000 public sector workers are taking part in what is expected to be the largest strike in Northern Ireland in 50 years.
It is halting bus and train services, while schools are closed and there is disruption across health services.
Sixteen trade unions are involved in co-ordinated action in a dispute over pay.
Rallies will be held in towns and cities including Belfast, Londonderry, Omagh and Enniskillen.
On Thursday, Rita Devlin, from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said the action “didn’t need to happen” and criticised the Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris for not implementing pay increases.
The UK government has offered a financial package if devolution is restored which would include provisions on pay.
Ms Devlin, whose union is taking a half-day strike, said health workers did not want to see appointments and procedures disrupted, but added they are “being cancelled every day because of a lack of staff”.
‘We’ve had enough’
Damien Doherty, a bus driver in Londonderry from the union, Unite, said Mr Heaton-Harris and Stormont parties should “commit to long term investment for all of our public services”.
“We’re hoping to get big numbers out into the rally across all sectors to send a message to Chris Heaton-Harris and other politicians to say, ‘look, get your finger out, we’ve had enough of it’.”
People have been advised to take care to reduce the chances of requiring treatment in the “significantly reduced health service” and to only make essential journeys as the combination of icy conditions and a lack of road gritting makes driving hazardous.
The strikes are happening due to escalating pay disputes, with many public sector workers in Northern Ireland paid less than counterparts in the rest of the UK.
This, combined with the cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing political crisis which has seen Northern Ireland go without devolved government for almost two years, has led to a series of strikes in healthcare, education, transport and other public sectors in recent months.
Justin McCamphill, from the teaching union NASUWT, told BBC News NI’s Good Morning Ulster staff had watched their pay being “eroded” and warned a recruitment crisis was on the horizon in education.
How will the strike affect me?
The strike will cause widespread disruption.
The Department of Health has said there will be a “significantly reduced health service” and people are advised to take care “to reduce your chances of needing health service treatment”.
Northern Ireland strikes: All you need to know in 120 seconds
However, they have also said that if you do require emergency hospital care, “you must seek it immediately”.
Most cancer services including chemotherapy treatment will not go ahead. During previous industrial action, these services operated as normal.
Dialysis patients are also affected with just several appointments scheduled across the system.
The strike will compound the daily pressures facing Northern Ireland’s health service, which is already struggling with budget problems, severe staff shortages and the worst waiting lists in the UK.
Other services affected by the strike include:
- GPs: They are not on strike but will only be operating on an emergency-only basis
- Scheduled hospital appointments: Most of them have been cancelled
- Ambulances: Will be focused on the most urgent cases
- Translink bus and train services: All are cancelled
- Schools: Most, if not all, will be closed
- Road gritting: Non-major roads will not be treated, and motorists are urged to take care given the icy weather
- Courts and tribunals: Offering a limited service
Strike impact: ‘I think it should be postponed’
Ashleen Quigley, from Limavady, County Londonderry, is a home care assistant who drives up to 50 miles per day visiting people who need her care.
She said she is anxious about going out to see her clients when road gritters have not treated the icy roads.
“How are we expected to get to our clients whenever the weather is so bad?” she said.
“I look after people and I might be the only individual they might see, they might really need me to go to the toilet or even get a meal.”
She added: “I understand why they are going on strike, but there have been such serious weather warnings going out this week – I think it should be postponed.”
Why are so many workers going on strike?
Public sector pay in Northern Ireland has fallen sharply in real terms over the last two years due to high inflation, a shortfall in Stormont’s budget and a lack of local ministers to allocate existing resources.
Some public sector workers, including Translink staff, have not been offered any pay rise at all this year because their employer does not have the money to cover the increase.
However, that money is dependent on Stormont’s return and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has not yet agreed to end its boycott of power-sharing government in Northern Ireland due to its protest against post-Brexit trade rules.
Image source, Claudia Savage/PA Media
Several unions held separate strikes last year because of pay disputes
Unions have been angered by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris making the £584m pay offer conditional on the restoration of devolution.
They argue that public sector workers are being used as “pawns” in an attempt to pressurise politicians to end the standoff.
Political parties in Northern Ireland, including the DUP, have also called on Mr Heaton-Harris to release the money.
However Mr Heaton-Harris has said it is a devolved matter for Northern Ireland and that intervening in the dispute would be as close as it gets to direct rule – when Northern Ireland is governed directly from Westminster.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
