Preparation is well underway for all out strike action next week among thousands of UNISON health and education workers.
Industrial action committees meeting at UNISON Northern Ireland HQ today heard detailed reports of plans for extensive picket lines on January 18 at all the acute and community main health facilities. EA school based and headquarter staff will also mount pickets right across the region.
Anne Speed Head of Bargaining and Representation said,
Trade Unions call for immediate support to resolve strike actions, with long-term transformation of NI Finance
Today at Hillsborough Castle, talks on local finances will commmence between the five main NI political parties and the Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, albeit with fewer expectations than yesterday.
Trade Unions call for immediate support to resolve strike actions, with long-term transformation of NI Finance
Today at Hillsborough Castle, talks on local finances will commmence between the five main NI political parties and the Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, albeit with fewer expectations than yesterday.
Health Unions met with Shadow Secretary of State Hilary Benn today, attending the ICTU seminar "25 years of the Good Friday Agreement - Achievements, Reflections and Challenges."
Delegates from UNISON, NIPSA, SOR, CSP and FDA had the chance to raise with him the failure of the UK government to release funding to restore pay parity for NHS workers in Northern Ireland.
Today’s Autumn statement by the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt MP, did not provide funding to restore pay parity for all NHS workers in Northern Ireland, who are still without a pay award. Responding to the Autumn statement, UNISON Head of Bargaining and Representation, Anne Speed, said:
‘‘UNISON members working across health and social care services will be extremely disappointed and frustrated by the continued lack of funding to meet their legitimate demand for pay parity with their colleagues across other parts of the NHS.
Yesterday in Belfast, trade union leaders representing working people in all professions and occupations met to discuss the pressures faced by everyone in Northern Ireland compounded, by derisory pay offers and the financial decisions of the NI Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris MP.
Speaking after the meeting, ICTU Assistant General Secretary Gerry Murphy said:
UNISON members across the whole Education Authority are joining picket lines on Thursday November 16th across hundreds of schools throughout Northern Ireland. Thousands of UNISON members have decided to stand up and be counted. They have decided they have been waiting too long. They want pay justice.
UNISON lay leaders in EDUCATION support services have met and pledged to continue our campaign to win reform of the EA pay and grading system. Plans are well advanced to mobilise members who, on Thursday, will mount picket lines at hundreds of schools across Northern Ireland.
A decision was also taken to continue action short of strike until at least the end of January 2024.
