Health unions accept Robin Swann offer to end industrial action

This follows multiple waves of strike action across the health service in Northern Ireland in recent months that had been suspended following a new offer by the health minister.

The trade unions Unison and the Royal College of Nursing have now formally accepted the offer but Nipsa, a union with a large presence amongst social workers, remains in dispute.

The unions had been demanding pay levels in line with the rest of the UK, and proposals to improve staffing levels.

Mr Swann, who pledged to end the industrial dispute immediately after being elected to the position of health minister, put an offer to the unions last month which has now been backed by members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the largest union in the health service, Unison.

RCN Northern Ireland director Pat Cullen, reflecting on the decision to take industrial action, said: “As I stood on picket lines with my colleagues, we felt the weight of the health service and the people of Northern Ireland on our shoulders, but we knew it was the right thing to do – for patients.”

She continued: “While RCN members have spoken clearly in accepting this offer, we are also clear that we need to see all of the measures that have been agreed by Health Minister, Robin Swann, implemented in full. Safe staffing was the central part of our dispute and for the sake of those who use the service, and those who work in it, we must get this right.

“The minister has shown his full commitment in endorsing these proposals and we now need to see them delivered.”

Unison regional secretary Patricia McKeown described the agreement as “the culmination of an incredible campaign by our over 26,000 members across the entire health and social services system both to secure pay parity and to challenge unsafe staffing levels”.

She added: “Our members have not just achieved that goal through their industrial action; they have also played a major role in seeing our devolved government restored.”

Mr Swann said: “I very much welcome this trade union announcement. My first objective on taking up the post of health minister was to secure a resolution to the industrial action and I am delighted that this has now been achieved.”

Nipsa, meanwhile, remains in industrial dispute.

Nipsa health official Maria Morgan explained: “We are embarking on a series of consultations on the pay offer. Our health panel decided to recommend to our members that the pay offer is rejected. Whilst we agree that this is a very good deal for some workers, for the majority – those at the top of their pay point which is over 50% of health workers – in year two of the proposal those members would be getting 1.67%. That is below the rate of inflation and we would see that as a pay cut.”

She added: “Industrial action short of a strike continues.”