People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin joined healthcare workers and their trade union representatives at the Altnagelvin protest opposing demands for 12% cuts to the health service.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said,
"Proposed 12% cuts to the health service must be resisted.
The health service is already completely underfunded. Workers have been denied their paltry pay rise. More than 500,000+ are trapped on waiting lists for care.
Stormont is handing over the health service to corporate profiteers who are deepening health inequalities.
Further austerity will only make these challenges worse.
Workers and everyone dependent on the health service is being punished because the Stormont Executive has refused to ensure sustainable funding, has facilitated privatisation and can't pay workers delivering care everyday a decent wage.
I joined workers and trade union representatives at the Western Trust board meeting following the Altnagelvin protest.
If Trust representatives want to stand in solidarity with its workforce, they should refuse demands to implement further cuts.
People Before Profit urge the widest possible support for the trade union-led campaign opposing demands for austerity.
We have no option but to escalate the fight for fair pay and investment to protect and save a health service founded on delivering quality care for all, not profits for a few.
Working-class communities must make it clear to the Health Minister, Trust bosses and Stormont MLAs that cuts are unacceptable."
