I write to advise that NIPSA has today given Health Employers the necessary notice in regards to NIPSA Members in Health taking continuous Industrial Action Short of Strike and beginning Monday 5 December 2022.
This Action is necessary as the failure of Government and the Pay Review Body to deliver realistic Pay rise’s for Members in Health continues to leave them underpaid, undervalued and unsupported.
Aligned to this is the unprecedented Recruitment and Retention issues that continue to give rise to ongoing Safe Staffing Concerns for Members and the public across all services.
On top of this the most recent Financial Crisis caused by Government mismanagement will see workers again picking up the costs with predicted cuts to services to address the current cost of living crisis with rising inflation, excessive fuel and energy costs.
NIPSA Members have voted overwhelmingly and Trade Unions must now ensure your Voices are heard at the highest levels as this will be a hard won fight.
To begin All NIPSA Members will take Continuous Industrial Action Short of Strike consisting of;
- Working Contracted Hours of work only and keeping strictly within normal paid hours;
- Not undertaking unpaid work;
- No coverage provided for vacant posts;
- No coverage for long term sick or maternity leave;
- Take all normal breaks and maintaining all Health and Safety protocols.
NIPSA will continue to work collaboratively with Other Health Trade Unions in line with the Health National Staff Council Trade Unions call for an “Inflation Busting” pay rise and have agreed to support Selective Action Short of Strike and Strike to maximise the campaign of action in Health.
Joint Trade Union Selective Strike Action has therefore been identified for Members who fall into Specific Groups from the 5 December to 12 December and NIPSA Members within these groups will mirror this in a show of strength and solidarity as follows:
Specific Selective Action Short of Strike (ASOS) 5 December to 12 December 2022 (Non Continuous)
All Staff:
Working to rule, all staff:
- Refusing to have breaks interrupted
- Taking all contractual breaks
- Not working unpaid/excess hours
- Not carrying out duties of other staff due to shortages including housekeeping, cleaning, portering or environmental teams etc;
- Working strictly to health and safety protocols
- Refusing to cover the work of other workers taking industrial action
- Selective overtime and additional hours ban
- Withdrawal from all union/management/department of health engagement except regional meetings on dispute resolution.
Specific Staff Groups
Nursing including: Registered nurses, Nursing assistants, Senior Nursing assistants, Domiciliary care staff, Reablement staff, Rehabilitation staff. Care Assistants, Senior Day Care Workers, Day Care worker Band 3 and Band 5
Action consists of:
- Working to rule
- Not working unpaid/excess hours
- Remain on designated ward expect in cases of emergency/ exceptional circumstances or health and wellbeing clinic (community staff) working in a geographical area
- Taking all contractual breaks;
- Not working unpaid/excess hours;
- Commencing from and completing duty on time to contractual hours;
- Not completing paperwork other than individual patient records;
- Not carrying out duties of other staff due to shortages including housekeeping, cleaning, portering or environmental teams etc;
- Not accompanying patients to tests and investigations unless there is an identified clinical requirement;
- Not undertaking non clinical administrative tasks
- Not collecting prescriptions from Pharmacy or Pharmacy in the community except in exceptional circumstances;
- Not collecting or delivering non-urgent blood samples in the community;
- No bank or overtime shifts on days of industrial action
- No carrying equipment;
- Not attending meetings including bed management or bed co-ordination;
- Not attending any meetings, conferences or training organised by employers or the Department of Health
- No conducting handovers outside of contracted hours
- Remaining in own designated ward/area unless in an emergency situation
Specific Staff Groups
PCSS/Support Services staff including Porters, Domestics, Security, Catering, Environmental team and all Drivers: Support Services including: Duty managers, Dispatch operatives, Laundry, Portering, Security, Domestics, Catering, Mortuary Assistants, Housekeepers, Car park staff, Smoking Cessation staff, Transport Controller, Supervisors, Operating department Orderlies.
Action consists of:
- No job stacking – 1 job, 1 person
- Staff to remain in own location and not move to cover gaps in the service including gaps due to annual leave, sickness absence or training absences.
- Where a pool exists, workers will remain in the pool at their substantive area.
- Take breaks without interruptions
Specific Staff Groups
Transport staff
Action consists of:
- Not collecting or delivering non-urgent blood
- Bus/freight drivers not to undertake any additional duties – no non-urgent requests or movement of equipment
Catering staff
Action consists of:
- No transportation of goods
Post Room staff
Action consists of:
- Post room staff will not handle medical records/patient notes
- Will not sort out pre-paid mail
Specific Staff Groups
Homecare workers including: Health Care Assistants, Domiciliary care staff all grades
Action consists of:
- Ban on using personal phones for work related calls
- No answering calls, texts, Whatsapp, and emails outside working hours
- Commencing from and completing duty on time to contractual hours
- Not working unpaid/excess hours
- Not entering into any projects for the use of digital services
- Not to undertake any duties which are not clearly identified on care plan or schedule
- Not taking home trust issued ipad – collect from base each day and return to base to charge at the beginning of each shift.
- Only undertaking mandatory training
- No carrying equipment or personnel in own vehicle
NIPSA Members in Northern Ireland Ambulance Trust
ASOS Details
Group of staff (Including Job titles):
All Staff
Action Dates:
5 December to 12 December 2022
Action consists of:
- Refusing to have breaks interrupted
- Working strictly to health and safety protocols
- Withdrawal from all union/management/department of health engagement except regional meetings on dispute resolution.
- Strict adherence to start times.
NIPSA Members in Business Services Organisation (BSO)
All Staff
Action Dates:
5 December to 12 December 2022
Action consists of:
- Refusing to have breaks interrupted
- Taking all contractual breaks
- Working strictly to health and safety protocols
- Not working unpaid/excess hours
- Refusing to cover the work of other workers taking industrial action
- Withdrawal from all union/management/department of health engagement except regional meetings on dispute resolution.
NIPSA Members following the completion of Specific Selective Action will continue to support the Continuous Action as outlined above until notified otherwise.
Details of upcoming Strike Action will follow in due course.
For further details or queries in regards to NIPSA Industrial Action contact your local Branch Representatives or the NIPSA dedicated Industrial Action Information line on 07970378057.