Trade unions say Northern Ireland pay award doesn't resolve dispute, strikes to go ahead

Unison and Nipsa members in the Northern Ireland hospital system are set to take to picket lines on Monday, while the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have set two dates for strike action in December so far – December 15 and 20.

All three trade unions signalled their intent to press ahead following the announcement from the Department of Health that a long-awaited pay recommendation, first put forward in July but not implemented in Northern Ireland due to the collapse of devolved government at Stormont, would finally be awarded to health staff here.

Unison Northern Ireland negotiator Anne Speed said: “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."

Rita Devlin, Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland said: "Staff will be relieved that they are no longer out of pay parity with their colleagues in England and Wales, but this does not resolve the RCN’s current dispute on pay.”

Nipsa, meanwhile, announced picket lines at hospitals and health centres across Northern Ireland for Monday.