Belfast: Uncertainty for Northern Ireland’s health workers continues as nurses across the UK go on strike.
In the absence of a Stormont executive, the pay of health workers in Northern Ireland remains unknown. Since there is no government system, no salary increases have been proposed for nurses. As a result, it is expected that salary increases will be concentrated in hospitals. The nurses here have to decide to strike against it. Nurses in Northern Ireland went on strike in 2019–20 for a variety of reasons, including a pay raise.
Other trade unions representing workers in Northern Ireland’s health service are also holding a strike ballot. The ballot for Unison members began on October 27 and will end on November 18. Members of NIPSA are also participating in the strike ballot.
For the first time in 106 years,
The Royal College of Nursing is on strike for the first time in its 106-year history. The opinion poll has been completed among about three lakh NHS nurses. Once the result comes, there will be an announcement about the strike. Meanwhile, nurses in other parts of the UK have been offered a 4–5% pay increase. The ballot will determine whether or not to accept this and go on strike.
Nurses say there has never been a more critical time to fight for adequate staffing and fair pay. Due to a lack of permanent staff, the NHS is on the verge of collapsing. According to the RCN, a recent study found that even long-serving nurses are underpaid by 20%.
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