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Following on from the statement by the new Education Minister  where he said

“I am committed to resolving the issues around the business case and will be bidding for additional funding in Executive’s Budget 2024-25 to enable the recommendations from the pay and grading review to be implemented.”

UNISON have launched a campaign to win broad political and public support for pay improvement.

Today (11th March 2024), UNISON, the largest union in Northern Ireland representing thousands of education support services workers, will hold a seminar at Parliament Buildings, Stormont (5pm), as part of the union’s ongoing campaign calling for the introduction of universal free school meals in Northern Ireland. The event is sponsored by Nick Mathison MLA, Chairperson of the Assembly Education Committee. It is co-sponsored by Pat Sheehan MLA, Deputy Chairperson of the Education Committee, and Committee members Cara Hunter MLA and Robbie Butler MLA.

UNISON members in the Health Service welcome the news that pay negotiations have concluded and that an offer will be published today.

Thousands of health workers will have pay parity restored on their pay bands and will receive an unconsolidated lump sum for all staff on Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions.

The return of devolved government, a new Executive and a new Education minister have led many support service workers to expect early progress on pay improvement through a pay and grading review.

Unions were told funding to support pay improvement is not included in the first tranch of money set aside to solve public sector pay disputes. It is now clear that those workers who have not yet received a cost of living pay rise will be prioritised in the payout.

The return of devolved government, a new Executive and a new Education minister have led many support service workers to expect early progress on pay improvement through a pay and grading review.

Unions were told funding to support pay improvement is not included in the first tranch of money set aside to solve public sector pay disputes. It is now clear that those workers who have not yet received a cost of living pay rise will be prioritised in the payout.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR UNISON NORTHERN IRELAND MEMBERS ON PSNI v AGNEW UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES CASE

UNISON’s successful involvement in the Agnew case at the UK Supreme Court means that you may have a claim against your employer if you work regular overtime or are in receipt of other payments like commission pay, or bonuses; and these payments are not included in your holiday pay.

Please access the page via the link below and read the Explanatory Note to identify if you may have a claim. You will also be able to access a short questionnaire.

UNISON, along with other health unions, met Minister Swann and Department of Health officials to commence negotiations on the restoration of pay parity.

Some progress was achieved, and a further meeting on Wednesday February 14th will continue steps to finalising a proposal to put to all health unions' members.

STAY TUNED for more updates! OUR FIGHT FOR PAY JUSTICE CONTINUES

Next steps

Dear Members,

Your Industrial Action committees in Health and Education will meet in the week commencing Monday January 29th. They will take stock of developments to date and plan the next steps in our campaigns to achieve pay justice.

We are determined to fight on. We will not be backing down.

The government must release funding so health, education and other public sector workers in Northern Ireland can have their pay disputes resolved, says UNISON today (Thursday).  

The call comes as thousands of health, care, school and other public sector workers, belonging to UNISON and 14 other unions, are to take strike action today, following the Westminster government’s ongoing failure to provide the funding needed to resolve pay disputes, says the union.

At today’s Executive Council meeting of the ICTU unanimous support was voiced for all our Northern Ireland affiliate unions engaging in industrial across Northern Ireland tomorrow.

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