People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said,
“The efforts of NHS and all frontline workers have been nothing short of heroic during the Covid-19 crisis. But they’re still being failed by a lack of PPE, testing and opposition to hazard pay by government and employers.
I want to encourage everyone to pay tribute to our frontline workers and to back their demands by supporting the Workers Rights and Social Justice Week.
The Council has agreed with our request to turn the lights of the Guildhall clock and Council buildings red on Friday May 1st.
The horn of the former Tellie and Henderson Factory will be sounded at 6pm on Friday May 1st as part of the “Five Minutes of Noise for Workers Rights” that people everywhere are encouraged to participate in. Red flags and signs for workers rights will be hung out from homes, workplaces and buildings.
We are also urging Derry & Strabane Council to back the DTUC demands for hazard pay for all key workers, to request all employers agree to unobstructed trade union representation rights and for workers to have a voice in deciding the response in their workplace to Covid-19.
May 1st, international workers day, is about equality, justice and democracy. This crisis has put a focus on unacceptable inequality, the low pay of essential workers compared to CEOs and capitalism as a failed system only working for elites. Going forward workers rights and the needs of communities must be the priority.”
