News

UNISON members across the health service in Northern Ireland remain determined not to be ignored and take a seat at the back of the bus. 

Strike action goes ahead as planned.

Picket line information

The Joint Secretaries from NIPSA, UNISON, GMB and Unite (JTUS) met with the Mark Browne, Permanent Secretary - Department of Education (DE) and Mark Bailey - Director of Workforce and Martin Monaghan – Workforce Planning Team on 29th March.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the implementation of the EA Pay and Grading review, which was submitted to the Department of Education in February 2023.
The meeting was a robust, frank exchange of opinions. The following are the salient points from the meeting.

"It has been more than a week since an offer to NHS health workers in England, and health workers here in Northern Ireland are feeling they remain last in line.

At a meeting to prepare for 2 days' strike action scheduled for March 31st and April 3rd, UNISON's lay leaders across the health service here pledged to continue our fight for fair pay.

Following the announcement of a pay offer to NHS staff in England UNISON's Health Committee in Northern Ireland is now asking the question when will a pay offer be made to health staff here? 

Meeting today Thursday March 16^th in emergency session, UNISON's Industrial Action planning team is asking if new money, promised by the UK Treasury, will be ring fenced for health staff pay.   

Anne Speed, Head of Bargaining and Representation at UNISON Northern Ireland said after the meeting: