bbc.com
Northern Ireland Health Workers Threaten Strike Over Pay
Health unions in Northern Ireland are threatening large-scale industrial action over pay parity with the rest of the UK.
English
United Kingdom
PoliticsHealthLabour MarketUkStrikeUnionPay
UnisonRoyal College Of NursingUnite The UnionNhsNorthern Ireland Fiscal Council
Mike NesbittAnne SpeedPatricia MckeownRita DevlinBrenda Stevenson
- How did the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council predict this dispute?
- The dispute was predicted months ago by the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council, who warned of "in-built wage-cost pressure." Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's department received an additional £350 million, but it's still £100 million short of a balanced budget.
- How do health workers in Northern Ireland feel about the current situation?
- Union representatives express that their members feel "thoroughly undervalued" and "disrespected." They warn of potential strikes post-Christmas if the 5.5% pay increase isn't implemented, leading to a "very difficult environment" within the healthcare system.
- What is Rita Devlin's perspective on the situation and its impact on the health service?
- The Royal College of Nursing's Northern Ireland Director, Rita Devlin, states this would be the third time nurses strike for pay parity with the rest of the UK. She believes nurses are "holding up a broken health service" due to overcrowding and other issues.
- What is the main reason behind the potential industrial action in Northern Ireland's health service?
- Health unions in Northern Ireland threaten "large-scale industrial action" if healthcare workers don't receive pay parity with the rest of the UK. The 5.5% pay increase recommended by the Pay Review Body has been implemented elsewhere but not in Northern Ireland due to budget shortfalls.
- What is the Unite the Union's stance on the pay dispute and what are the consequences if their demands aren't met?
- Unite the Union's Brenda Stevenson highlights that members are "not prepared to take anything less than pay parity." If the 5.5% pay increase is not met, they will ballot members for industrial action, emphasizing that "you won’t have a workforce if you don’t invest in them."