HSC 2019/2020 Pay
Discussions took place over the summer months where the Trade Unions are pushing the Department of Health (DOH) to uplift pay for NI HSC staff in line with other areas such as Scotland. Fortnightly meetings of the six Union pay team NIPSA, Unite, Unison, RCN, RCM and CSP are in the diary up until the end of September.
In the Northern Trust a joint Pay Protest with NIPSA and UNISON will take place at Antrim Hospital on 10th September at 1pm. In the Western Trust, Pay Protest will take place at Altnagelvin Hospital on 16 September at 1pm. We hope to replicate this across other areas. We hope to replicate this across other areas.
The Unions have alerted the DOH and Employers that if no progress has been made toward an acceptable pay uplift by the end of September we may be in a dispute situation. At that stage the NIPSA Health Central Panel will need to discuss the potential of balloting members, possibility on a collaborative basis across the unions and needs to be further discussed with our members when appropriate.
The NIPSA Health Pay Sub Committee met on the 27 August and these maters, will be brought to the Health Central Panel on 20 September 2019, or before if necessary. We will keep members fully informed as the discussions progress.
Save Stroke and Breast Cancer Services
NIPSA Branches, local campaign groups: Fermanagh Save Our Services, Save Craigavon Breast Services, Knitted Knockers of NI and Save the Ulster Stroke Services held demonstrations at the the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen, Craigavon Area Hospital and the Ulster and City Hospitals in Belfast.
These protests were held to coincide with the closing of public consultations on breast assessment services and stroke units in Northern Ireland. The Department of Health wishes to close breast cancer assessment services at South West Acute Hospital and the City Hospital.
Stroke units would be reduced from the current centres across 11 hospitals to a three or five hyper-acute stroke units, with the Ulster Hospital and the City hospital losing services.
You can click on the links below to download full copy of our responses to the consultations:
Response to the Public Consultation on “Reshaping Breast Assessment Services and Response to the Public Consultation on “Reshaping Stroke Care"
New Appointments: NIPSA Public Officers Side
New Assistant Secretary, Health
Maria Morgan, has responsibility for the Health and Social Care Board, Health and Social Care Trusts and other health bodies. She is also a Joint Secretary to the various HSC negotiating bodies.
New Deputy General Secretary
Padraig Mulholland has strategic and management responsibility for the Public Officers' Group covering Health, Education, Housing, Libraries NI, Local Government, the Voluntary and Community Sector and Education. He has overall responsibility for the Foyle NIPSA Regional Office. He also has a range of corporate responsibilities.
Unpaid Holiday Pay
You may be aware from recent media coverage of an Employment Appeal Tribunal case taken by NIPSA’s solicitors on behalf of members in the PSNI. This outcome has been challenged to the Supreme Court by the employer. It is not clear at this stage if that appeal will ultimately be successful. However, as things stand at the moment, the decision of the Employment Tribunal means that all workers could potentially benefit as most employers have not correctly calculated holiday pay entitlements when workers had annual leave. NIPSA therefore decided to contact members to make them aware. Complete our online questionnaire to see if you have a potential claim.