Government must address workers’ cost-of-living concerns - Mayo TD
THE government must listen to and address the reality of workers’ cost-of-living concerns, the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh, has stated.
The Mayo TD was speaking as ministers meet trade union leaders yesterday at the Labour Employer Economic Forum, adding that this must be an opportunity that is seized and not be yet another government talking shop.
Said Deputy Conway-Walsh: “As the Labour Employer Economic Forum meets, this is an important opportunity for the trade unions to update the government in relation to the pressure that their members are under.
“Today’s discussions cannot be yet another government talking shop, the opportunity to deliver for ordinary workers needs to be realised.
“The unions have signalled very clearly their intention to sanction negotiations for pay rises for their members in order to deal with the cost-of-living crisis.
“Let’s not forget the government’s budget which left workers high and dry: When the government introduced their budget, inflation was at 1.8%. It is now double that.
“That reality is now further impacting workers and families right across the state - people who were already really struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.”
She continued: “People are beyond fed up, many simply cannot cope. This is going to be made known to them by the trade unions, and specifically, they want to have a discussion in relation to those workers who have to use transport as part of their work.
“So public health nurses, healthcare workers, home helps, homecare workers, and various others workers who have to provide their own transport, who are really seriously struggling with that burden due to the rising cost of fuel and the government’s half measure to address it.
“Unsurprisingly, unions have expressed frustration at the attitude of the government because the workers they represent are struggling with the same challenges facing ordinary people right across the state. They feel left out. They feel let down. They feel like the government has not listened to them.
“Workers and those who represent them want to know what actions the government is prepared to take. Unions have signalled that they will be taking industrial action because their members cannot afford the basics any more, and they are sick of broken promises and inaction from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.”
While the dialogue is incredibly important, what is even more important is the government’s response, said Deputy Conway-Walsh.
“What answers are they going to have in relation to how workers are going to make it to the end of the week? What answers are they going to have for public and private sector workers alike? What is the government prepared to do to tackle the cost of living?” she asked.
“Those are the questions that the unions are going to be asking. And we will be watching carefully to see if the government has learned any lessons from their shambolic response to the public’s concerns in recent weeks.”