Northern Ireland’s healthcare workers face a growing pay dispute. Union leaders recently turned down a pay offer from the Department of Health, saying they are ready to ballot for strike action.
On October 23, unions met to discuss the department’s proposal: a 3.6% pay rise beginning October 1, 2025. However, the unions rejected it because it won’t be backdated to April, unlike pay increases given to colleagues in other parts of the UK.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt insists his department is negotiating in good faith but faces financial challenges. He acknowledged the difficulties, stating, “We are working within regrettable financial constraints.”
The discussions come at a time when pay settlements have been agreed upon in other regions. In May, England and Wales saw a 3.6% rise, while Scotland accepted a higher 4.25% increase as part of an 8% offer over two years. The NHS Agenda for Change framework, which standardizes pay, was introduced in 2004 and is updated every year.
Rita Devlin, the executive director of the Royal College of Nursing, voiced her frustration. She stated they had “no choice but to prepare for strike action” as they cannot accept being paid less than their peers.
Recent data show that healthcare staff in Northern Ireland have faced more pay inequality compared to the rest of the UK. This has heightened concerns among health professionals. A survey by the RCN revealed that 83% of members feel undervalued and believe pay disparities are affecting workforce morale.
While negotiations continue, the health minister faces criticism. Earlier this month, he noted that insufficient funding has been secured to meet the demand for the pay award. He mentioned that only half of the total required amount had been located.
The outcome of this dispute could have broad implications for healthcare in Northern Ireland, as well as for the ongoing efforts to maintain a balanced relationship between staff compensation and budget constraints. With public sentiment increasingly supportive of healthcare workers’ demands, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether a resolution is found before strike action begins.
For further details on the situation, you can check out this report from the BBC.
