UNISON SOLIDARITY WITH STRIKING HEALTH WORKERS IN SEATTLE!

Dear SEIU 1199 

On behalf of UNISON members in Northern Ireland I extend a message of solidarity to your 8,000 members on strike at Swedish healthcare facilities in Seattle.   We are proud of our long standing relationship with SEIU 1199 NY and offer any support we can.

In Northern Ireland 26,000 of our members across the health service have been engaged in strike action for 7 weeks.  We have just suspended the action to ballot on an offer that restores pay parity and commits to tackling safe staffing issues right across the service.

Taking the action was not easy.  It never is for dedicated health workers but public support remained strong throughout despite many thousands of cancelled hospital appointments.   They understood that we, like your members, were standing up for patients’ rights as well as worker rights.    The voice of health workers has been heard on this side of the Atlantic.  The justice of your cause is being heard here too.  Stay strong.  Your struggle is our struggle.

Patricia McKeown
Regional Secretary
UNISON NI