image source, David Young/PA Media
Unison health workers are among members of 16 unions taking part in the strike.
Northern Ireland is facing severe disruption as more than 100,000 public sector workers, including teachers, nurses and bus drivers, went on strike on Thursday.
It is expected to be the largest strike in Northern Ireland in 50 years.
A concerted action among 16 trade unions has resulted in workers striking in an ongoing dispute over wages.
The strike is expected to halt buses and trains, close schools and severely disrupt health services.
Labor will hold meetings in towns and cities including Belfast, Londonderry, Omagh and Enniskillen.
The public is cautioned to reduce the likelihood of needing treatment with “significantly reduced health services” and that the combination of icy conditions and lack of gravel on roads makes driving dangerous. It is advised to only travel.
The strike comes as many public sector workers in Northern Ireland are paid less than workers in other parts of the UK, and wage disputes have escalated.
This, combined with the cost of living crisis and the ongoing political crisis in which Northern Ireland has not had a devolved government for almost two years, has sparked a series of strikes in health, education, transport and other public sectors in recent months. .
On Thursday, 16 trade unions came together for an all-day “day of public action.”
How will the strike affect me?
This strike will cause widespread disruption.
The Ministry of Health said there would be “significant reductions in health services” and advised people to take care to “reduce the likelihood of needing treatment by health services”.
Northern Ireland attack: everything you need to know in 120 seconds
However, it also states that if emergency hospital treatment is required, “you must seek medical attention immediately.”
Most cancer treatments, including chemotherapy treatments, cannot proceed. During the last industrial action, these services were operating normally.
Dialysis patients are also affected, with just a few appointments scheduled across the system.
The strike will compound the daily pressures facing Northern Ireland’s health service, which is already struggling with budget problems, severe staffing shortages and the worst waiting list in Britain.
Other services affected by the strike include:
- GP: We are not on strike, but we plan to open only for emergencies.
- Scheduled hospital appointments: most canceled
- Ambulance: Focus on the most urgent cases
- Translink bus and train services: all suspended
- Schools: Most, if not all, schools will be closed.
- Road dust: All but major roads will not be treated and drivers should use caution due to icy weather.
- Courts and tribunals: limited service provision
Impact of strike: “I think it should be postponed”
As a home care assistant, Ashlyn Quigley, from Limavady, Londonderry, drives up to 80 miles a day to visit people in need of care.
She said she doesn’t feel comfortable going out to see customers when road pavers aren’t dealing with icy roads.
“How can we get to our customers when the weather is this bad?” she said.
“I’m taking care of people, and I might be the only one they see. They might really need me to go to the bathroom or get some food.”
He added: “I understand why they are going on strike, but there are very serious weather warnings in place this week so I think it should be postponed.”
Why do so many workers go on strike?
Public sector salaries in Northern Ireland have fallen significantly in real terms over the past two years due to high inflation, Stormont’s budget shortfalls and the lack of local ministers to allocate existing resources.
Some public sector workers, including Translink staff, have not been offered any pay increases at all this year because their employers do not have the funds to cover them.
But that funding depends on Mr Stormont’s return, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) still not agreeing to end its boycott of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government over protests over post-Brexit trade rules. do not have.
image source, Claudia Savage/PA Media
Several unions staged separate strikes last year over wage disputes.
Unions are furious that Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has offered a salary of £584m on the condition that devolution is restored.
They claim public sector workers are being used as “pawns” to pressure politicians to end the conflict.
Political parties in Northern Ireland, including the DUP, are also calling on Mr Heaton-Harris to release the funds.
But Mr Heaton-Harris said this was a matter of devolved powers to Northern Ireland and that intervention in the conflict would be as close to direct rule as Northern Ireland would be governed directly from Westminster. In that case, he claimed that.