UNISON is extremely concerned that the link to pay parity for the health and social care workforce under Agenda for Change has been broken. The break in pay parity has occurred despite repeated commitments made by the Health Minister and Executive to pay parity. NHS workers in England received their 2025/26 pay uplift in August, backdated to 1st April, with workers in Northern Ireland still without any clarity as to when a pay uplift will be in place here.
Commenting on this, UNISON Head of Bargaining and Representation, John Patrick Clayton said:
‘‘Repeated commitments to pay parity made by the Health Minister and Executive are not being upheld and this is unacceptable. Pay parity is the bare minimum that UNISON members and the wider health and social care workforce expects. They must not be left behind on pay.
The issue of pay has been brought to the Executive by the Health Minister, and the Minister and Executive now need to act urgently to put pay right. It is 5 months since health and social care workers were due a pay rise in April, and nearly 4 months on from the Health Minister publicly accepting the Pay Review Body recommendations. Delays on the issue of pay cannot continue.
The Executive must recall that the workforce has taken industrial action in the past to secure and defend commitments to pay parity. UNISON members will not accept promises being unfulfilled. The longer the Health Minister and wider Executive delay on the issue of pay, the greater the potential of industrial action becomes.’’