Colleagues:
There has been a meeting with the Northern Ireland Trade Union negotiators, the Secretary of State and NIO officials on 25th May 2023. An update will be communicated to all members in due course. However, despite the ongoing talks, there is still no sign of a pay offer for health workers in Northern Ireland.
Therefore, action short of strike action will continue across all six Health Trusts for the month of June.
We demand pay parity with our NHS colleagues in England and have confidence that our negotiators will achieve this on our behalf.
ASOS Update – June 2023
Unison members began a further period of industrial action short of strike action (ASOS) starting at 00:01 on Monday 1st May 2023 and running until 23:59 on Wednesday 31st 2023, with a further continuance of ASOS running from 00:01 on 1st June 2023 and running until 23:59 on Friday 30th June 2023.
Action short of a strike (ASOS): 1st – 30th June 2023
- Refusing to have breaks interrupted.
Derogations – A&E operational members will request to have their meal breaks at their base station, within the agreed meal break windows. These breaks should only be disturbed for Category 1 immediately life-threatening calls. All members who are on unpaid meal breaks should have their meal breaks at their base station/location, within the meal break period. These breaks should not be disturbed.
- Working strictly to health & safety protocols.
Derogations – None
- Withdrawal from all union/management/Department of Health engagement except regional meetings on dispute resolution.
Derogations – None
- Strict adherence to start times.
Derogations – None.
Members should not start or book early to answer calls, complete vehicle checks / VDIs etc. These should be commenced at the shift start time. Station-based relief members should start and finish at their base station. At the commencement of their shift, before onward travel to stations which are not their base station, but where they have been assigned duties, except when doing so would incur additional travel or expense. Relief staff will not use their private vehicles to travel to locations other than their base station.
Local Unison Shop Stewards and H&S Reps should be contacted if further information is required. NIAS has been given due notice of this action short of a strike, as per legislative requirements. RMC / line managers will contact Relief Staff to ascertain if they will take industrial action.
End of communique
