Despite the harsh and unfavourable weather conditions, Fermanagh workers remained undeterred as they united this afternoon (Thursday, January 18) on the streets, advocating for improved wages. The ongoing strike across Northern Ireland witnessed a diverse group of professionals participating in pickets, including road workers, bus drivers, teachers, nurses, health staff, and civil servants.
The focus of today's action revolves around achieving pay parity, addressing the rising cost of living, and ensuring adequately funded public services. The march, starting from The Round 'O or Brooke Park, featured nearly 1,000 workers proceeding through Enniskillen to the Diamond area, where a rally was held.
Led by the banner of the Fermanagh Council of Trades Unions (FCTU), the march showcased flags from each participating union, including the historic Jim Brown banner of the local Unite the Union Branch. Chanting ‘What do we want? Fair play! When do we want it? Now!’ the marchers crossed the West Bridge in Enniskillen, drawing attention and solidarity from onlookers in the town centre.
Reaching the Diamond area, a sizable crowd listened to addresses from various speakers, including Jill Weir, Vice-Chairperson of FCTU and local representative of Unison; Sally Rees, a local teacher from NASUWT and member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee; Trade Union activist Donal O’Cofaigh and Unite the union official; Tanya Killeen, President of the Public Service Union (NIPSA); Joe Fee, Delegate to the Fermanagh Council of Trade Unions and local representative of the Communication Workers Union (CWU); and Marie O'Shea, a local trade unionist and the Assistant Northern Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO).
The majority of speeches emphasised the demand for fair pay, with some urging action from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton Harris. Sally Rees from NASUWT received cheers as she conveyed a strong message, stating: "We are here to send a loud message to Chris Heaton-Harris and the Tory Government that they must stop using public sector workers as a political tool to get the DUP back into government. It is not working! And to the DUP, we say – get back into government."
The rally concluded with Joe Fee from CWU calling a motion into place: "The organised workers of Fermanagh call on the Secretary of State to immediately release the funds needed to support much-needed cost-of-living pay raises and parity in the public sector. We further call upon him to release the funds to properly fund all of our public services."
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