The Minister of Health has returned to the trade unions following a meeting with the Executive, presenting an offer that is strikingly similar to the previous one—a proposal that undermines the principle of pay parity. This offer asks healthcare workers to relinquish a portion of their pay increase, with no guarantee that the full amount will be paid in the future. As a result, healthcare workers in Northern Ireland would face an overall lower percentage pay rise of for the 2024/25 financial year, compared to the 5.5% already awarded to their counterparts in Great Britain.
This raises a crucial question: how can this offer be considered parity?
It is essential to highlight that the funds to pay all healthcare workers were allocated to the Northern Ireland Executive through the Barnett Consequentials. Yet, this money appears to have been diverted elsewhere. Why are healthcare workers in Northern Ireland being treated as second-class citizens once again?
We demand transparency and accountability from the Executive. It is imperative that healthcare workers are paid what they deserve, and the commitment to pay parity is upheld in both principle and practice. The current offer falls far short of these expectations and reinforces the perception of inequitable treatment for healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland.
We call on the Executive to take immediate action to resolve this matter, ensuring that healthcare workers are treated with the fairness and respect they deserve. Furthermore, steps must be taken to ensure that the issue of pay parity never arises again.
Let this be a clear message: healthcare workers in Northern Ireland will not accept anything less than equitable treatment and recognition for their invaluable contributions to our health service