NI Conservatives’ co-chair, Trevor Ringland, has accused the Northern Ireland public sector union, NIPSA, of “shameful scare-mongering”, after the organisation started a billboard campaign against welfare reform featuring an image of the grim reaper.
“NIPSA is guilty, not only of wilful ignorance, but also of frightening people about welfare changes which are fair and necessary”, Trevor explained. “The reforms are about targeting benefits at the people who need them most and ensuring that, for those who can work, taking a job is the most lucrative option.”
“The benefit cap of £26,000 is higher than the average wage in both the public and private sector in Northern Ireland. Is NIPSA seriously suggesting to its hard working members, not to mention everyone who works in the private sector in Northern Ireland, that they should be worse off in work than on benefits? Likewise, the government has agreed to effectively exempt Northern Ireland from the spare room supplement for the time being because we don’t currently have enough one or two bedroom social houses to rehouse tenants, but does the union really believe that, in principle, people should languish on a waiting list for a home, while others have more rooms than they need?”
“NIPSA seems determined to fear-monger and peddle an extreme left wing ideology which can only consign people in Northern Ireland to dependence for many more generations. The imagery on its poster is absolutely irresponsible and it offers nothing toward a sensible debate on welfare reform. The union is letting down its members and letting down everyone in our society with this campaign.”