UNISON announces health strike dates in Northern Ireland

UNISON has today (Wednesday) announced the dates for strikes and industrial action by health and social services staff in Northern Ireland. Workers represented by the union voted overwhelmingly earlier this month to take action over safe staffing levels and pay parity. Health staff in Northern Ireland are paid less than their colleagues in Britain. Waiting lists and waiting times have reached crisis levels for patients across Northern Ireland, partly as a result of poor pay and staffing, according to UNISON. The first phase – from Monday 25 November to Wednesday 18 December – will see UNISON members across the entire health and social services system – including nurses, ambulance staff, clerical workers and social care employees – taking action short of a strike. In addition, there will be strikes by a number of specific groups of workers at five health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland. UNISON Northern Ireland regional secretary Patricia McKeown said:“None of the employees involved have taken the decision lightly. They are determined to fight for justice on both pay and staffing levels. “They are determined to break the cycle of hundreds of millions of pounds haemorrhaging out of the health budget and into the hands of private agencies. “They want to see the NHS workforce stabilised so it can get on with the serious business of delivering health and social care to the people of Northern Ireland. “The public is supportive of their campaign for ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release health NHS Northern Ireland strike Source Type: news