“UNISON education members have joined in solidarity with all those campaigning to demand the reinstatement of the £2.2m additional subsidy to St Mary’s and Stranmillis,” says UNISON Northern Ireland regional organiser Joe McCusker.
“Agreeing with the campaigners’ challenge to this decision as ‘blatantly opportunist’, UNISON activists pledged support.
“UNISON is alarmed at the fact that no consultation has taken place, pointing to the fact that there was no reference in recent statements on the Northern Ireland Budget by Simon Hamilton.”
Mr McCusker, also slammed the fact that no equality impact assessment was undertaken.
He went on to point out that if the UK government diverted the £200m spent on Trident missiles into relieving and removing some of its austerity measures, the Northern Ireland economy might be in a better state.
The NI Assembly have so far failed to consider other ways of raising revenue to offset the Budget deficits, such as raising the rates threshold and creating a mansion tax.
“St Mary’s is highly valued by the students, teachers, our UNISON members working there and the people of the west of this city,” said Mr McCusker.
