Write a commentNewry Unite Community branch spokesperson Martin McKeown, has called the recent Stormont House Agreement MKII “A sop to big business"
The union took part in a protest at the weekend outside Sinn Fein and DUP offices throughout the province.
Following the protests MLA Conor Murphy has offered support to the trade union movement in it's "resolve to campaign against British Tory austerity."
Speaking on the issue Martin McKeown stated “Effectively what we are seeing in regards SHA mkII is Robin Hood in reverse; instead of taxing the rich to provide for the poor, our politicians have agreed to the biggest attack on Social Welfare in history and at the same time gave big business a 12.5% tax windfall. It is estimated that £300-400 million will be expunged from our block grant over the first three years."
"This is money that will be taken from our NHS, Education, Social Welfare and infrastructure; this money will be handed to fat cat businessmen to splurge, while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet."
“The Stormont House Agreement is a very dark day for all the people of the North; thousands of jobs are going within our public sector. These are jobs that will not be coming back. Thousands of people will find themselves on the dole, thousands of people will have to try and survive on benefits that are being cut left, right and centre."
" Our political leaders have been trying to dress this up as a great deal or rather the best deal on the table; " A New Start" is what it's been packaged as! No amount of spin or massaging of figures can disguise the fact that this is austerity, which again is a fancy word for cuts! This is an attack on the working class; this is an attack on the disabled, poorest and most needy within our community."
"This Agreement has set aside over £200 million to catch benefit fraudsters and also for the segregation walls in Belfast, which keep our working class communities apart." No money has been allocated to deal with the legacy of the past, nor has any money been provided to catch the tax avoiders who squirrel billions to off shore accounts every year. The Stormont House Agreement mkII is a sop to big business that will cause misery, poverty and death. We need to stand together on this issue."
Local Councillors and Unite Community activists Kevin Mc Ateer and Davy Hyland both added their concerns. Cllr McAteer said “This is not an issue of political allegiance or religious beliefs; this is a struggle to survive." This Agreement is a very, very dark day for everyone regardless of whether you live in Barcroft, Derrybeg or Shandon Park; these cuts are going to hit every working class person the same."
Echoing these sentiments Davy Hyland added “This is not a time for apathy or a time to stick your head in the sand and wish it all away, this is real." A tsunami of Welfare cuts is on the horizon, which is bringing a deluge of hardship, misery and pain." We need to stand together and let our elected representives know we will not take this lying down."
Murphy speaks of opposition to austerity
Commenting after the weekends protests Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said there is widespread opposition to the effects of Tory austerity policies in the six counties.
"It is clear there is growing cross community opposition to Tory austerity and its effects upon the poorest and most vulnerable in the north," he said.
"A broad-based, inclusive campaign is needed, involving all sections of society - trade unions, churches, community and voluntary organisations and political parties - to oppose the damage being done to our welfare system, public services, jobs and working conditions, as a result of this British government's punitive austerity policies.
"Sinn Féin supports the trade union movement in its resolve to campaign against British Tory austerity.
"The collective focus of all protest action should be against those responsible for the austerity crisis in the north: that means directing united opposition against the Tory government in London. Austerity is the cost of the union.
"Sinn Féin will continue to work closely with the leadership of Unite the Union in Ireland in this regard."
