Recent statistics published in the past two weeks have shown that incomes for pensioners have decreased in real terms by 8% since 2012 while disposable income for people here is half that compared to the UK average.
Paddy Meehan, Socialist Party candidate for the Botanic ward in the upcoming Belfast City Council elections, stated “Where is our recovery? We are constantly being told that the recovery is in full swing but I haven’t felt it in my pocket. As a call centre worker I haven’t seen a cut in the cost of food or rent nor a real increase in my pay.
“Instead the only evidence I have seen of a recovery has been the politicians voting themselves a £5,000 pay increase last year – the very same politicians who are denying public sector workers a pay increase that wouldn’t even cover the increase this year in food costs.
“In the private sector, workers were fed the lie that cost of living pay rises weren’t possible during the recession as companies couldn’t afford them. Now we are being told companies can’t afford them in the recovery!”
“Where is the recovery for workers and their families? The Socialist Party is calling for the introduction of rent controls in the private sector, a £10 an hour minimum wage and the reversal of Stormont’s devastating cuts to public services.”
