The largest strike for more than 10 years will take place this week in Northern Ireland.
Teachers and civil servants will be taking industrial action on Wednesday, April 26, as they fight for better pay and working conditions amidst the cost of living crisis.
This will include the PCS, Unite, INTO, UTU, GMB, NIPSA, NASUWT, NAHT, with the the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) taking industrial action for the first time in its existence.
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The strike action is designed to bring the Civil Service and education to a halt and unions have said it is the opening of a campaign of industrial action designed to bring the government to the negotiating table.
IPSA General Secretary Carmel Gates said: The action has been forced in large measure by the government’s decision to implement sanctions in Northern Ireland. The sanctions imposed by the Secretary of State and Westminster are designed to force Northern Ireland political parties to return to Stormont. In effect, these sanctions only hurt ordinary people and will cause permanent damage to public services.
"The pay award to our members of £552 is insulting and derisory and adds to the wage cut of more than 20% in 10 years. More than 60% of civil servants now earn below the NI median wage.
"It is time for the trade union movement to say enough is enough. We will build a mighty campaign for pay justice and for an end to cuts in public services.
"I call on every working-class community to join us in this struggle.”
Rallies will be held in Belfast and Derry as part of the strike action, with unions calling on others to join them in support for their fight for better pay and conditions.
The Belfast rally will take place at 1pm at City Hall and the rally in Derry will take place at 11am at the Millennium Forum and will both feature an array of trade union speakers.
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