Northern Ireland

Nurses and NHS workers back deal to end strike action

Royal College of Nursing director Pat Cullen (left) with Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children ward sister Ann McDonald on the picket line last month.
Royal College of Nursing director Pat Cullen (left) with Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children ward sister Ann McDonald on the picket line last month. Royal College of Nursing director Pat Cullen (left) with Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children ward sister Ann McDonald on the picket line last month.

UNIONS representing thousands of nurses and healthcare workers have confirmed their members have overwhelmingly backed proposals on pay parity and safe staffing - signalling an end to strike action.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Unison and Unite yesterday released a joint statement saying they had formally notified health minister Robin Swann and urging him to "swiftly" implement the pay deal to bring wages into line with England.

NHS bosses across the north's six health trusts are now under pressure to address severe staffing shortfalls.

It follows an unprecedented period of strikes and work-to-rule days after unions became locked in a bitter dispute with the Department of Health.

Further walkouts had been planned over coming months but following the restoration of power-sharing last month, a deal was brokered between union chiefs and department officials - which was then signed off by Mr Swann.

Nipsa is the only union that is continuing industrial action, saying that not enough protections are offered to their members.

Tens of thousands of hospital appointments and patient procedures were cancelled as a result of the mass NHS walkouts between November and January, with the crisis seen as one of the key factors in ensuring Stormont's return.

RCN director Pat Cullen described the past few months as the "most turbulent and pressurised" nurses had ever experienced.

It was the first time in union's 103-year history that it had embarked on strike action.

"Nurses had come to the conclusion that in order to protect patients, they had no choice," Ms Cullen said.

She noted that Scotland and Wales have implemented legislation on ensuring safe levels of nursing staffing and said the north "needs to be next".

"While RCN members have spoken clearly in accepting this offer, we are also clear that we need to see all of the measures that have been agreed by the health minister implemented in full.

"Safe staffing was the central part of our dispute and for the sake of those who use the service, and those who work in it, we must get this right."

Unison, which represents more than 26,000 workers across the health and social services sector, said the endorsement of the proposals marked the culmination of an "incredible campaign".

Regional secretary Patricia McKeown added they will work "intensively" with the department to implement the pay and staffing agreement.

"We recognise the health minister moved quickly after his appointment to endorse this agreement. We expect the minister and the department to ensure that it is now implemented swiftly. In particular, we must see delivery on a strategy for safe staffing.

"Patients, the public and our members need a health service that has enough staff to meet increasing demand and deliver the care that is so badly needed. This issue cannot wait any longer."