West Tyrone MP supports nurses and public sector workers on pay campaigns

by Gráinne Connolly

This week West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff met with senior staff and trade union representatives from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) delegation in Omagh.

They met to discuss the 'Scrap The Cap' campaign along with other issues in relation to pay for nurses and other public sector workers. 

The RCN delegation consisted of Mr Desmond Lowry, Senior RCN Officer; Mr John Boyle and Mrs Catherine Gault.

MP McElduff was joined by Sinn Féin colleagues Catherine Kelly MLA and Councillor Ann Marie Fitzgerald. 
 

(The 'Scrap the Cap' campaign demands an end to the pay restraint for NHS staff and also against the destruction and dismantling healthcare service in Northern Ireland.

A facebook page has been set up which posts regular updates; linked below. 

https://www.facebook.com/ScrapTheCapNHS/
 

After the meeting Barry McElduff said he wanted to "pledge Sinn Féin's support for nurses and public sector workers". 

"Nurses, health care assistants and other public sector workers provide a vital service and deserve a fair wage for their work. 

"Nurses in Britain earn more than nurses earn in the North of Ireland for doing exactly the same job. There is a difficulty recruiting and retaining staff."

The West Tyrone MP says the DUP/Tory government deal does not help matters for nurses in Northern Ireland. 

"It is worth noting that the Tory government, backed by the DUP, is implementing a policy of unrelenting austerity.

"It is hard to credit that the DUP's first act in support of this Tory government was to vote for an effective cut to the wages of emergency and public service workers. 

He concluded in saying: 

"As nurses themselves say 'everything is going up except for our wages'. 

"Sinn Féin will continue to oppose austerity, defend frontline services and campaign for our public services and our public sector workers."