"I was glad to pledge my support for UNISON’s Free School Meals for All campaign meeting in the Guildhall. UNISON, the Derry Education branch and all the members driving this campaign forward deserve to be commended," People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said.
"It is shameful MLAs receive subsidised food in Stormont, but many working-class households have been priced out of school dinners.
"People Before Profit has backed the campaign since it was launched in 2020. We have brought several successful motions to the Derry City and Strabane Council supporting universal free school meals and calling on Stormont to implement it. Too many working-class children are hungry at school.
"Universal free school meals are good for their health and education. It's common-sense. It's such a simple demand, but Stormont has failed to deliver it, as every other jurisdiction on these islands has.
"Shamefully, more than 1 in 4 Derry children live in poverty, while billionaires hoard wealth and weapons manufacturers receive rates cuts.
"It is shameful MLAs prioritise massive pay hikes for themselves, but deny working-class families even paltry pay rises to cover school meal price hikes and cost-of-living pressures. Derry isn't thriving when so many children are being left behind. Decades on, we are no closer to an anti-poverty strategy that will tackle deprivation. Stormont’s record on tackling child poverty is a scandal. It doesn't challenge deprivation, it ensures it is maintained. That's why the Unison Free School Meals for All campaign is so important. I urge people to support the campaign and join the fight for the demand.
No one will deliver this universal free school meals but working-class people in struggle themselves."