NHS Northern Ireland Faces Imminent Nursing Strikes Amid Pay Dispute

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Northern Ireland has commenced the formal process of balloting its members for potential strike action.

 

This decisive move stems from the ongoing failure to implement the 3.6% pay award recommended by the Pay Review Body earlier this year.

 

Despite repeated assurances from the Northern Ireland Executive, nursing staff continue to be denied the pay increase that their counterparts in other UK regions have already received.

 

In a recent statement, the RCN expressed profound disappointment, highlighting that, despite "repeated promises" from the Executive and statements by the health and finance ministers, there remains no resolution to this "unacceptable situation."

 

On Monday, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt conveyed a diminishing optimism regarding the resolution of the pay award delay.

 

Addressing the Northern Ireland Assembly, Nesbitt stated, "I am less optimistic now than I was a couple of weeks ago, but I still think it's going to be resolved."

 

He acknowledged the potential repercussions of strike action, emphasizing that it could adversely affect service delivery, waiting lists, and staff morale.

 

Furthermore, Nesbitt noted that the RCN is scheduled to hold a pivotal meeting this Thursday, where the option of strike action is anticipated to be "rubber-stamped" by the union.

 

Prof Rita Devlin, Executive Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, expressed her frustration, stating, "This time last week, we held out hope that the Northern Ireland Executive would finally act to resolve this crisis. Instead, we are once again out of pay parity with our UK colleagues. The Northern Ireland Executive has reneged on its commitment to maintaining pay parity for nurses."

 

She further emphasized the detrimental impact on staff morale, noting that the delay has caused "unquantifiable" damage.

 

Devlin remarked, "It is very clear to our members that they are not seen as important or valued by those in power when something as simple as a pay award, which they knew was coming, cannot be delivered."

 

In May, Nesbitt had signed off £200 million to go towards this year's pay deal but indicated that the funds would need to be sourced outside his department due to existing financial pressures.

 

Health pay remains a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and in recent years, health workers have engaged in strike action over the failure to implement annual pay awards.

 

The RCN has called upon the Northern Ireland Executive to act immediately to prevent further disruption to the health service.

 

They stress that nursing staff deserve better and will not remain silent in the face of continued pay injustices.

 

As the situation unfolds, the potential for industrial action looms large, with significant implications for healthcare services across Northern Ireland.

 

The coming days will be crucial in determining whether a resolution can be reached or if the region will witness another wave of nursing strikes.