STATEMENT  FROM HSC TRADE UNIONS NORTHERN IRELAND 25th JUNE 2025

Health Trade Unions have met with the Minister of Health Mike Nesbitt MLA to discuss the actions he is taking to secure funding for a 2025/26 pay uplift for the Agenda for Change (AfC) workforce, following the recommendations made by the Pay Review Body.

The Minister outlined the steps he had taken to date to secure the funding required for a pay uplift and that the issue is now with the NI Executive for consideration.

Health Trade Unions are clear that the Executive must support the allocation of funding for a pay uplift. Any delay in providing the funding necessary risks exacerbating difficulties in recruiting and retaining the workforce that services need and damaging workforce morale. A repeat of the significant delays experienced in 2024/25 in putting pay uplifts in place must be avoided.

The Executive should demonstrate that it values the immense contribution made by the many thousands of Health and Social Care workers delivering essential services across Northern Ireland.

Health Trade Unions will seek to engage with the wider Executive to urge them to support funding for a pay uplift.

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