Sinn Fein in Government

Abstract

On 30 November 2011 when tens of thousands of workers went on strike in the North over attacks on pensions and austerity cutbacks in the public sector, the Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness said he supported the strike. McGuinness said: "I understand fully the feelings of public sector workers angry at the imposition of a pension levy by the British government. I support the striking workers in the actions they have taken"

In addition SF issued various statements saying its "elected representatives and activists were out on the picket lines" and Sinn Fein wanted, "a change in the cuts policy being imposed by the British government." The message Sinn Fein was sending out was that the public sector cuts being imposed in the North have nothing to do with the policies it pursues in the Executive.