TENS of thousands of public service workers will strike across Northern Ireland tomorrow.
Unison said yesterday that Health & social services, education boards, schools, bus and train services and the civil service will all be affected as workers take action in protest at unsustainable cuts which put the public and their services at risk and which will result in massive job loss.
‘Where Unison members are involved the union is providing cover for the young, old and infirm in residential care, and at bank holiday levels for community and hospital care. On acute care we are providing emergency cover on detailed agreements with the employers.
‘The spotlight now needs to move to the culprits who are responsible for this growing crisis in public services. They fall into three categories:
‘The UK Government for slashing the block grant and attacking the welfare state.
‘Our own Government for producing a devastating set of cuts in response.
‘Employers in areas such as health & social services who have backed the proposals by producing cuts to services which put people at permanent risk.
‘Confidence in our political system is at an all-time low. If our politicians wish to restore confidence in a system which could work, if they demonstrated that they really have the best interests of the People at heart, then now is the time to reverse the damaging decisions.
‘Workers and the public alike are demanding their rights.
‘Tomorrow is one expression of the anxiety and betrayal felt by our members and their communities.
‘The campaign will continue until decisions are taken by those in power which protect the People rather than rob them of their rights.’