WATCH: Derry grounds’ maintenance team demand cost of living pay rise
Picket line protest at NIHE headquarters in the Diamond
Striking members of the Pennyburn direct labour organisation grounds’ maintenance team have picketed the Derry headquarters of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in pursuit of a cost of living pay rise.
The protest took place on Friday (February 3) and was supported by UNITE the Union and members of the People before Profit party.
Ms Fitzgerald added: "During that entire time, we have been talking to tenants and they have been supporting workers in their efforts for pay justice and fairness. But, all that while, tenants are going without the service that they need, so what you have is a situation where it seems the Housing Executive Management and the Permanent Secretary are refusing to take responsibility here.
"No-one seems to be in charge and so we have workers six months on a picket line in pursuit of fair pay to look after their families and we have tenants suffering through all of that.
"It is an absolutely outrageous abdication of responsibility by all involved at the top. We are calling on the Housing Executive, we are calling on the Permanent Secretary to step in and take responsibility in the absence of anyone else. Are these people not accountable? Are they not accountable in our society? Are they not accountable to tenants? It seems they aren't and that needs to change.
"UNITE are fully supportive of our members and we will be here until we get a resolution.