Secretary of State called to resign by NIPSA if he is unable to secure additional funding for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) has called on the Secretary of State to resign if he is unable to secure additional funding for Northern Ireland, warning that continued underfunding is pushing public services towards crisis and increasing the likelihood of widespread industrial action.
In a statement, NIPSA General Secretary Carmel Gates said: "The Secretary of State continues to tell us there is no more money for Northern Ireland.
"If that is the case, and he cannot secure the funding needed to support our public services and deliver fair pay for workers, then he should resign.
“We cannot continue to be short-changed. Year after year our services and our workers are expected to do more with less.
“The consequences of underfunding are clear.
"We have members relying on food banks to get by.
"We have children being asked to wear coats in classrooms because schools cannot afford adequate heating.
"We are seeing health and social care services reduced, cut back or closed because the funding simply is not there.
"That is not acceptable. Workers and communities deserve better."
Ms Gates warned that industrial relations across the public sector are rapidly deteriorating.
"In Health and Social Care, unions are considering industrial action,” she said.
"Teaching unions are already taking industrial action, non-teaching unions are considering their options, and Civil Service unions will also be looking at next steps.
We are heading towards a storm of industrial action across public services unless governments act urgently to address the funding crisis."
NIPSA said a fully funded, needs-based budget is essential to protect public services, recruit and retain staff, and deliver fair pay settlements.
"Workers should not be forced into industrial action simply to secure pay awards they are entitled to. Nor should the public have to suffer the consequences of years of political failure and underinvestment.
"We are already seeing the impact of underfunding in every corner of our public services. Staff are leaving because they cannot afford to stay, schools are struggling to make ends meet, health services are under immense pressure and working families are being pushed to the brink.
“There is no route to fair pay without fair funding. Northern Ireland needs a budget that reflects our needs and provides the resources required to support workers, protect services and invest in our future.
“The time for excuses is over. Fund Northern Ireland fairly, or make way for someone who will."