Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Health staff are so sick of wages bias.. strike is likely’
Unions hold vote on New Year walkout £1.08
HEALTH workers say strike action is “on the cards” after pay talks broke down over the weekend.
NHS staff packed into meetings across Northern Ireland yesterday as unions lay the ground for industrial action in the new year.
Ballots are being held in a fortnight on whether to go forward with a fresh vote in 2019 to begin a picket.
Until now, unions have not been specific about the nature of any action but yesterday said downing tools is one option being considered.
Unison rep Conor Mccarthy added: “Workers are just sick to their back teeth of struggling.
“We don’t want to strike, we want to work with the Government and employers but we’re not prepared to be treated as second-class workers anymore. Cleaners and porters are tired of the fact their colleagues in Birmingham are getting paid more than them.
“After the UK pay deal was reached, NHS staff in England, Scotland and Wales get paid a minimum of £8.93 an hour. “Lidl just announced they are putting their staff up to £8.75 an hour. But Band 1 NHS workers in Northern Ireland are still getting a minimum wage of £7.85 an hour. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
It is understood nurses union the RCN is not considering strike action but may pursue a “work to rule” move. The Department of Health insisted it is “seeking to secure the additional funding required for a 2018/19 pay award that stands comparison to this year’s increase in England”.
Difference in NHS minimum wage here and in rest of the UK