UNISON elected its first president from Northern Ireland yesterday.

Armagh nursing assistant Lucia McKeever has worked for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust for 36 years helping people who have learning disabilities.

“As one of the millions who has suffered years of pay freezes I understand how important the issue of pay is to our members, but pay is just one of many challenges we face,” she said.

“I am looking forward to working closely with our members across the UK who are campaigning tirelessly to protect their local services.

“This government’s misguided policies of privatisation and deregulation are destroying our public services, and welfare reforms are devastating communities.”

Ms McKeever warned that the next 12 months are “a critical time” for Unison ahead of the 2015 general election.

“It is now more important than ever for people to belong to a trade union.”