UNISON NI’s Health Committee is deeply disappointed at the fact that no pay offer has yet been made to Health staff. This leaves us once again almost a year behind other parts of the UK and NHS and in a situation where pay parity is not being maintained as was promised.
Shop Stewards and local representatives from across all the health employers received a report of a recent meeting with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. There was no positive news from that meeting. The Minister did repeat his wish that the 5.5% uplift recommended by the Pay Review Body could and would be paid to health staff. However, he stated that full funding has not been secured and the whole Executive is awaiting the announcement of the UK budget at the end of October.
The meeting resolved that there should be no further delay beyond the November scheduled meeting with Minister Nesbitt.
In the meantime, our Health Committee, very aware of member’s deep frustration, took the following decision:
Co-operation with engagement on transformation plans is not possible. Our members are adamant that strategic change should not be imposed or advanced without staff involvement. Any attempt to impose strategic change without agreement runs the danger of industrial relations disputes and inevitable industrial action.
