UNISON members have voted in overwhelming numbers to accept the pay offer to restore pay parity with England. The ballot results were 77.2% voted ‘yes’ to accept while 22.8% voted ‘no’ to reject.
This has come about after a long and arduous campaign by all UNISON members in Northern Ireland which involved prolonged industrial action including Action Short of Strike Action and numerous days of full Strike Action over the last 15 months. This offer ensures pay parity with NHS workers in England and includes an agreement to address safe staffing levels.
There remains variation in healthcare workers’ pay in both Wales and Scotland. This gap should be closed and will be a key goal for UNISON negotiators in the 2024-25 pay round. UNISON is also currently actively engaged in negotiations around mileage rates.
Members should not underestimate their achievement in securing this pay offer and ensuring the political movement required to achieve it.
UNISON wrote to the NIAS Trust on 21st March 2024 after the consultative ballot informing the Trust that ‘in the event of acceptance of the pay proposal this specific trade dispute will come to an end.’
As a result of the vote by members to accept this pay offer, all current industrial action will be stood down from 1st April.
Additionally, the correspondence on 21st March 2024 stated:
‘As the IA notice expires on April 1, the period from March 22 to April 1 should be used at all levels of affected services to consult with trade union reps and agree resetting of workforce practice.’
UNISON had a productive meeting with NIAS management on 29th March 2024 regarding the resetting of working practices. It has been agreed that the current end of shift arrangements introduced in November 2023 that protect the last hour of an operational shift will continue as an interim measure. This will enable meaningful engagement with the Trust to agree end of shift protocols that will support our members in the longer term.
Further updates will follow over the coming weeks.
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