Time to take back public services from the private sector

Workers Party spokesperson Joanne Lowry has expressed outrage and concern at the collapse of contractors Carillion and the threat to over 500 local jobs. 

“The futures and livelihoods of around 200 Carillion staff carrying out work for the Housing Executive are now at serious risk and hundreds more including those employed on Power NI contracts are at similar risk”, she said. 

“I have been in touch with senior civil servants in the Department for Communities insisting that they arrange for the threatened Carillion workers to be taken on to the Housing Executive payroll immediately”, Joanne said. 

“This crisis has come about as a result of  the outsourcing of contracts, the privatisation of public services and the failure of companies like Carillion to deliver.” she stated. 

“Public sector organisations like the Housing Executive must have their own  Direct Labour Organisations to provide the level of service required and  job security for its maintenance and repair teams” 

“It is time that we reversed the privatisation of public services and took them back fully into public ownership”, Joanne concluded