Menu
14/01/2020
'Breakthrough' £30m Pay Offer For Health Unions
A 'breakthrough' offer for salary parity has been tabled to health unions in Northern Ireland, the Health Minister has confirmed.
Robin Swann said the offer comes after some very difficult days for local health services as he set out the terms to the newly formed Assembly. The former UUP Leader made salary parity with England one of his first moves as local Health Minister following the restoration of powersharing.
With effect from the 01 April 2019, pay parity is expected to cost £109 million. The Department has assembled around £79 million, meaning an additional £30 million is required to meet the cost of pay parity with England for 2019/20.
Mr Swann informed the Northern Ireland Assembly of his plans to formally submit the new pay offer to health unions this afternoon.
It comes after local nurses took to the picket lines for the first time ever in December, with two further strike days carried out last week and ballots for escalated action ongoing.
Pay parity, together with safe staffing, are the main causes of the current dispute. Trade unions had previously rejected two formal offers by the Department of Health as they fell short of resolving parity with the rest of the UK.
Recent industrial action caused the cancellation of thousands of outpatient and elective appointments across Northern Ireland.
"This new offer will reinstate pay parity with England, and not just for this year," the Health Minister told the Assembly.
"The breakthrough that we all wanted has been achieved. This is a good day after some very difficult days."
A costed implementation plan for safe staffing levels is also being developed between the DoH and health unions.
Mr Swann added: "The component parts are now in place to settle the industrial dispute. Our nurses and other great health and social care workers can come off the picket line and get back to the job they love and do so well."
The additional funds will have implications for the budget in future years and did not come from additional money offered to Northern Ireland by the government.
Health unions plan to carefully assess the pay offer and are set to meet with Executive Ministers this afternoon.
(JG/CM)
Robin Swann said the offer comes after some very difficult days for local health services as he set out the terms to the newly formed Assembly. The former UUP Leader made salary parity with England one of his first moves as local Health Minister following the restoration of powersharing.
With effect from the 01 April 2019, pay parity is expected to cost £109 million. The Department has assembled around £79 million, meaning an additional £30 million is required to meet the cost of pay parity with England for 2019/20.
Mr Swann informed the Northern Ireland Assembly of his plans to formally submit the new pay offer to health unions this afternoon.
It comes after local nurses took to the picket lines for the first time ever in December, with two further strike days carried out last week and ballots for escalated action ongoing.
Pay parity, together with safe staffing, are the main causes of the current dispute. Trade unions had previously rejected two formal offers by the Department of Health as they fell short of resolving parity with the rest of the UK.
Recent industrial action caused the cancellation of thousands of outpatient and elective appointments across Northern Ireland.
"This new offer will reinstate pay parity with England, and not just for this year," the Health Minister told the Assembly.
"The breakthrough that we all wanted has been achieved. This is a good day after some very difficult days."
A costed implementation plan for safe staffing levels is also being developed between the DoH and health unions.
Mr Swann added: "The component parts are now in place to settle the industrial dispute. Our nurses and other great health and social care workers can come off the picket line and get back to the job they love and do so well."
The additional funds will have implications for the budget in future years and did not come from additional money offered to Northern Ireland by the government.
Health unions plan to carefully assess the pay offer and are set to meet with Executive Ministers this afternoon.
(JG/CM)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
20 November 2024
Other News In Brief
Alliance Calls For 'Immediate And Decisive' Action On Child Hunger The Alliance Party has called for "immediate and decisive" action to address the growing crisis of child hunger in Northern Ireland.
Other News In Brief
Alliance Calls For 'Immediate And Decisive' Action On Child Hunger The Alliance Party has called for "immediate and decisive" action to address the growing crisis of child hunger in Northern Ireland.
25 October 2024
Health Minister Unveils New Initiative To Tackle Health Inequalities
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced the launch of Live Better, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing health inequalities in Northern Ireland. The program will initially focus on neighbourhoods in Belfast and L'Derry, with plans to expand to other communities if successful.
Health Minister Unveils New Initiative To Tackle Health Inequalities
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced the launch of Live Better, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing health inequalities in Northern Ireland. The program will initially focus on neighbourhoods in Belfast and L'Derry, with plans to expand to other communities if successful.
06 December 2019
Health Unions Reject £28m Pay Offer
Negotiations between trade unions and the Department of Health over the ongoing industrial action have ended without agreement. Health workers across Northern Ireland have joined actions over pay and staffing levels.
Health Unions Reject £28m Pay Offer
Negotiations between trade unions and the Department of Health over the ongoing industrial action have ended without agreement. Health workers across Northern Ireland have joined actions over pay and staffing levels.
22 September 2023
SF Calls On UK Govt To Deliver 'Fair Pay Deal'
As health and social care workers across NI take part in strike action, Sinn Féin has called on the UK government to "deliver a fair pay deal".
SF Calls On UK Govt To Deliver 'Fair Pay Deal'
As health and social care workers across NI take part in strike action, Sinn Féin has called on the UK government to "deliver a fair pay deal".
16 January 2024
UUP Commits To Defending NI's Health Service
The Ulster Unionist Party has pledged to defend Northern Ireland's health service and champion pay parity for health staff. Making the pledge, the party's Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA said: "This Thursday, thousands of nurses will reluctantly stand on cold picket lines alongside colleagues from across the Health Service.
UUP Commits To Defending NI's Health Service
The Ulster Unionist Party has pledged to defend Northern Ireland's health service and champion pay parity for health staff. Making the pledge, the party's Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA said: "This Thursday, thousands of nurses will reluctantly stand on cold picket lines alongside colleagues from across the Health Service.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Frequent, often heavy showers of rain, sleet and snow will affect most parts this evening and overnight, but are likely to be most frequent across the northeast. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
