I joined the Derry Trades Union Council organised rally for Free School Meals for All Children at the Guildhall.
It's simply disgraceful that 41% of children living in poverty can't access free school meals.
The shameful 20% hike on the cost of school meals imposed by the Education Minister and the Stormont Executive in January has made school meals unaffordable for many households.
The hypocrisy of a failed government and broken system couldn't be any clearer as well-paid MLAs fight for an almost 30% pay hike for themselves as they enjoy state subsidised meals in Stormont, while children from all communities and backgrounds are sitting hungry in our schools. This is the Stormont version of "let them eat cake".
I want to commend the trade union and community campaigns calling for free school meals and the ending of the school-day costs burden on working-class households. They have the full support of People Before Profit.
It's time to end this scandal and implement universal free school meals for all children now. Our children shouldn't have to wait any longer.
Child poverty is a blight on our society. A government taking bold action to address it would legislate to abolish billionaires and redistribute wealth to end the scandal of child hunger and poverty.
International School Meals Day
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin reports from the shameful 20% hike on the cost of school meals imposed by the Education Minister and the Stormont Executive in January.
