Browsing Tag

Pat Lawlor

9 posts
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Covid-19: Prioritise public health, not private profit

Health workers are on the front line in tackling the Covid-19 crisis and undoubtedly displaying huge dedication and self-sacrifice in doing so. However they are fighting this battle in the context of a health system which was already in chronic crisis, due to decades of underfunding from both Stormont and Westminster, leaving services overstretched and understaffed. This was a key issue health workers raised during their momentous strikes and industrial action late last year.
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Ambulance staff say, “Our union, our choice!”

Since January 2018, there has been a protracted industrial dispute in the South between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and front-line ambulance service workers represented by the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA) over recognition and the workers' right to choose which union represents them.

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Public sector workers prepare for pay battles

At the end of February, the Department of Health for Northern Ireland enforced a pay ‘award’ on health workers. This was imposed above the heads of the trade unions after an intense period of negotiations reached an impasse and workers gave overwhelming support for industrial action, including strike action, in consultative ballots conducted by the unions.

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NHS Staff Reaching Breaking Point

Our health service is nearing the precipice, but the damage can be reversed. As a health worker, I need my own union, NIPSA, and the union movement as a whole to step up - to defend our right to a decent standard of living, not to scratch out an existence from month to month; to fight for public ownership of all parts of our health services.
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Save our special schools

On Tuesday 27th March, hundreds of parents, children, staff and trade unionists rallied in opposition to the proposal to close seven special needs schools across Belfast and merge them into three super schools. Parents had made their own posters and banners, many with images of their own children, with slogans such as 'Save My School' and 'Not all children have voices, but they have choices'.