News

Thousands of UNISON nursing staff will commence industrial action short of strike on Monday December 5^th next. They will join thousands of other UNISON members of the direct workforce in all Health Trusts and arms length bodies in industrial action short of strike.

The deeply worrying developments at two major Trusts over the last weekend has thrown into sharp focus the reality for nursing and healthcare staff.  Our members are struggling to cope on two fronts and overwhelming pressure in the workplace and the impact of the cost of Living.  They are living the reality of the frontline and the breadline.

UNISON, the largest union in the health and social services system in Northern Ireland, has today (27^th October) launched an industrial action ballot across our membership.

The ballot has been prompted following a recommendation from the Pay Review Body, which is insufficient to cover the needs of health workers who have been at the frontline of the Covid pandemic and are now facing a cost of living crisis.  To compound the problem, the Westminster Government has not made additional funds available to the health service in Northern Ireland.

The UNISON reps from the three branches in the Southern Trust, Craigavon, Orchard and Newry & Mourne, have, after lengthy negotiations with the Trust, succeeded in moving over 200 of our members from agency employment to Trust contracts. The process has begun with support services across the Trust and once that is complete, will move on to admin staff.