The government’s announcement that they intend imposing a £1,400 pay settlement has drawn an angry response from NIPSA members in the health service who are continuing to see their standard of living cut to pieces.
Patrick Mulholland, NIPSA Deputy General Secretary, stated:
The government has responded to our industrial action with a paltry pay settlement that would see a real terms pay cut for health service workers. This is missed an opportunity to properly address the pay and staffing crisis in the Northern Ireland health service. Their attempt to impose a below inflation pay settlement is an insult to the heroes who kept the health service on its feet through the COVID pandemic.
On top of this shameful attack on health workers living standards, the government has completely failed to address the staffing crisis in our health service. Clearly they are not listening to the voices of the vast majority in society who want to defend and develop a properly resourced and publicly owned health service. Their actions only make NIPSA members even more determined to continue our fight for an inflation busting pay rise and safe staffing.
Our action short of strike action will continue and our health service strike will go ahead on Monday. Patient safety remains very important for health staff who will take industrial action. Discussions are ongoing to ensure the employers take the necessary steps to protect patients during the dispute.