NHS PAY

Extending powers to Northern Ireland Civil servants during the absence of an Assembly and Executive will now enable the Department of Health to take a step on pay for health workers.  News has emerged that the recommendation of a £1400 per pay band increase imposed on workers in Scotland England and Wales is to be extended to HSC staff on agenda for Change Pay terms.

Responding to the announcement Anne Speed, UNISON Head of Bargaining and Representation said 

"A pay rise has been due since last April. Inflation is running at 11% and our members are now on industrial action to secure protection from rising costs and increased threat of poverty.  We know that DOH officials listened carefully during the many times we challenged the breaking of pay parity.  But they, and we, know now that even with this adjustment our members will continue to feel real financial pressure.

Without protection against inflation pay workers essentially suffer a pay cut.

We are part of a whole UNISON and health trade union campaign to secure that protection.  This uplift will not settle that dispute and we will continue to join with UNISON members across the NHS to press the UK Government with strategy of industrial action and campaigning to resource and support NHS staff retention and pay protection.  We also fully expect our NI political leadership to jointly work towards the same goal."