For immediate release
After 4 months of industrial action including 4 full-day strikes across the health and social services system, the determination of health workers has finally brought the government to the negotiating table. The Secretary of State, Department of Health and Health Trade Union Negotiators will now meet on Wednesday
On foot of this offer to meet, UNISON has demanded confirmation that such a meeting will be a genuine engagement and will result in negotiation to produce a meaningful offer which we can take to our members.
We expect nothing less from this engagement and while we will not stand down our action short of a strike and will continue with today’s strike action, our health committee is prepared to pause next Monday’s planned 24-hour strike to enable talks to take place.
Patricia McKeown said ‘Our member’s determination to escalate strike action today and again on Monday finally got the message through to those in power. Health workers across Northern Ireland will not be left behind.
The mood of strikers at Belfast City Hall this morning, outside the Secretary of State’s office and on picket lines across Northern Ireland is one of utter determination to secure their rights. They never take industrial action lightly. They care about our health and social services and the public they serve but they have been driven to the brink.
Their message now is equally clear – This must be real or the strike action will escalate.
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