‘Anger and frustration’ of nurses may spark more strikes over pay
Posted 25 January 2024 - 15:04
Union warns that Northern Ireland’s nurses may take further industrial action if pay parity with England is not delivered and concerns about patient safety are not addressed
Further nursing strikes in Northern Ireland are likely if no action is taken on pay, a nursing union has said.
Unions have urged secretary of state for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris to release money for public sector pay awards following a day of industrial action last week.
Staff want pay parity with England
Nurses and other public sector workers took to picket lines on 18 January in their ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions, with nurses calling for pay parity with their colleagues in England.
Mr Heaton-Harris introduced new legislation in the House of Commons on 24 January to extend the deadline for the resumption of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont to 8 February. He has previously said money for public sector pay can be released when the assembly and executive are restored.
Industrial action was ‘underpinned by anger and frustration’ of nurses
RCN Northern Ireland director Rita Devlin said action on pay is long overdue and the college would be considering its next steps if no movement on funding is made.
‘The strength of feeling demonstrated by RCN members on picket lines across Northern Ireland last week was underpinned by the anger and frustration at how the current political crisis has not only denied them a pay award but has significantly deepened the crisis in our health and social care system,’ she said.
‘Irrespective of the current political situation, pay parity with England must be restored as a first step in addressing this crisis. Anything less will be unacceptable to our members and can be viewed as further evidence that our concerns over patient safety are not being listened to.’
Call for urgent funding to ‘meet the overdue wage bill of our public servants’
Irish Congress of Trade Unions assistant general secretary Gerry Murphy said funds for public sector pay should be released now.
‘Talks between trade unions and public sector employers must begin immediately so workers can reap the rewards of their principled resistance to these shameful political games,’ he said.
‘Regardless of what happens between now and 8 February, Chris Heaton-Harris must move immediately to release the money to meet the overdue wage bill of our public servants.
‘Society must now engage in a serious discussion on how Northern Ireland is financed and the trade union movement is ready to be part of those discussions.’
Nurses still awaiting 2023-24 pay offer
Prior to last week’s strikes the Northern Ireland Office confirmed the UK government had provided up to £584 million in funding to address public sector pay and more than £1 billion to stabilise the country’s public sector services.
Nurses in Northern Ireland are the only ones in the UK left without a pay offer for 2023-24.
RCN and Unison members went on strike last winter over a 4% pay rise for 2022-23. They have not received any offer for 2023-24, unlike counterparts in England, who received a 5% increase.
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