The government’s failure to hold pay talks with every organisation representing striking NHS workers in England is unacceptable, ill-considered, and has potentially perilous consequences, health unions warn today (Monday).
The chair and secretary of the union side of the NHS staff council have written to Steve Barclay on behalf of health unions, raising concerns about the government’s handling of the pay dispute.
Nurses belonging to the union Unison staged another 24-hour walkout today, as part of the UK-wide ongoing dispute over pay.
For the third time in recent months, health and care staff joined picket lines across Northern Ireland to protest the current pay deal from Westminster and to advocate for patient safety.
District nurse Nicola Bell, who was on a picket line at Shankill Road in Belfast, told Nursing Times that she was striking once again because nursing was “becoming unsafe” due to staff shortages.
As the NHS dispute over pay and staffing widens across most parts of England in a significant escalation there will be a third day of strike action in Northern Ireland.
Thousands of UNISON members in the six Health Trust arm’s length bodies will withdraw their labour. This includes staff in the Ambulance service where UNISON represents more than 850 workers. Arrangements to provide emergency cover are under discussion.
UNISON members in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service have welcomed the decision by Unite union to move their strike day to February 21st.
Alastair Long UNISON Ambulance Branch Secretary said:
As hundreds of our members in the ambulance service prepare to take action next Tuesday, we agree that working together makes us stronger.
This will be the 3rd time UNISON members in the Northern Ireland health service have stood up and stood out for the NHS and for our need for a decent pay rise.
UNISON members in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service have welcomed the decision by Unite union to move their strike day to February 21st.
Alastair Long UNISON Ambulance Branch Secretary said:
As hundreds of our members in the ambulance service prepare to take action next Tuesday, we agree that working together makes us stronger.
This will be the 3rd time UNISON members in the Northern Ireland health service have stood up and stood out for the NHS and for our need for a decent pay rise.
UNISON members across the health service in Northern Ireland are continuing to play their part in the whole union campaign of industrial action to secure funding for pay rise that protects against inflation.
UNSON members in Scotland secured a better deal and Wales health staff are considering the current offer from the Welsh devolved government.
So far the UK Treasury has turned a deaf ear to the demands of NHS workers and refuses to engage.
UNISON social and domiciliary care workers have been steadfast in their support for the unions' campaign of industrial action to win an inflation busting pay rise. In Northern Ireland our members in media interviews highlighted their frustration with at delays in achieving an improvement. The negotiations at UK level are stalled.
UNISON joined with other health unions to push for increased funding. The political stalemate however only allows for the DOH budget to be maintained at current levels unless instructed otherwise by the Secretary of State.
UNISON have been informed of the strike by a number of teaching unions on Tuesday 21st February for a half day.
UNISON members and all support services staff in schools are not involved in the teachers' dispute and are required to attend work unless told otherwise by the school principal.
Our UNISON Health members on strike that day will be joining with teachers at early morning local rallies and in Belfast .
Significant pay award is vital after years of cuts and restraint.
Three local government unions, representing 1.4 million council and school employees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, have today (Tuesday) submitted a pay claim that calls for an above-inflation wage rise.
UNISON, GMB and Unite say a significant pay award is vital after years of local authority spending cuts and pay restraint.
The claim, which would apply from the start of April, is for council employees to receive a wage rise of 12.7%*.
This is an important update for members as some information has been circulating and members are asking what happens next.
The need for a review was first agreed in 2019 as the NJC two year deal for 2019-2021 was agreed. One of the main trade union side goals was to reduce the number of points on each pay level.
Discussion between EA and trade union side started but unfortunately the COVID pandemic emerged, and the discussions were suspended.
