Derry roads service maintenance workers engaging in industrial action for fair pay
'Bonus system must be scrapped and replaced with a fair wage'
Department for Infrastructure (DfI) roads service maintenance workers are engaging in a further week of industrial action for fair pay.
Speaking to Derry Now, Derry City and Strabane District councillor, Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said his party was proud to join striking DfI roads service workers on the Woodburn depot picket line.
Cllr Harkin added: "£330 a week for public servants carrying out a vital function is not fair pay. The so-called bonus scheme is supposed to add up to £60 per week into workers pockets but the way it works is draconian.
"Even if workers managed to get a bonus, £390 a week isn't a fair wage for long serving public servants.
"The bonus system must be scrapped and replaced with a fair wage based on the cost of living and the critical role roads service maintenance workers play.
"Stormont is down because of cynical DUP obstructionism but pay for roads service and public sector workers has been cut by consecutive Executive's for many years, said Cllr Harkin.
He accused the political establishment of "sitting on their hands telling workers they must wait".
Cllr Harkin added: "The working class has been waiting a long time.
"We commend UNITE, GMB and other trade unions for backing workers action - and for refusing to wait on political parties treating fair pay demands as prop for cynical manouvering.
"If pay and funding issues aren't resolved, we are heading towards a general strike in September.
"Corporate profiteering and capitalism only benefits a tiny handful of people. It's time for linking up the struggle for fair pay with workers in the South and across Britain. Road service workers are leading the way."