The biggest ever strike is taking place in the North today, with more than 150,000 workers from right across the public sector taking co-ordinated action to fight for higher wages. They are fed up with seeing their real-term wages drop and being punished by a Tory Government that wants to ensure their pay levels drop behind those of workers in England, Scotland and Wales. They are absolutely correct to engage in strike action. They have the full support of People Before Profit. If they are prepared to continue and escalate, they will win. There is a danger for the Government that workers in the South will take inspiration from what they are doing and be willing to do the same unless the Government is prepared to make a pay offer to the public sector that actually makes up for the loss in real terms that workers suffered in the past couple of years. That means a 7.5% increase in one year. Unless that offer is made, workers should engage to have co-ordinated ballots for strike action in the South.

What we are seeing in the North as well is the fact there is no Assembly or government there. The public services there are under incredible strain across every sector, from local government to health. I came into politics through my membership of a trade union and I support the right of workers to defend their rights and pay and conditions. What we have been able to do in this country for many years is to ensure we get agreement on public sector pay. We have done that and we are in the middle of those negotiations right now. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is leading that and I am confident we will be able to strike a deal that is good for workers and the public sector. We have more public servants working now than we ever had previously. This Government has invested in the public sector. We respect and value the work it does and I expect we will be able to work together to secure a pay deal that secures the agreement of employers and workers.