Westminster government must unlock funding for Northern Ireland public sector pay rise now

The government must release funding so health, education and other public sector workers in Northern Ireland can have their pay disputes resolved, says UNISON today (Thursday).  

The call comes as thousands of health, care, school and other public sector workers, belonging to UNISON and 14 other unions, are to take strike action today, following the Westminster government’s ongoing failure to provide the funding needed to resolve pay disputes, says the union.

The action, which is expected to be Northern Ireland’s biggest public sector strike in recent history, takes place in the continuing absence of a Northern Ireland executive at Stormont, and the failure of the Northern Ireland secretary to release funding that he says is available for public sector pay. 

The UK government says it has set aside £600m to settle public sector pay claims as part of a £3.3bn financial package to support the return of devolution in Northern Ireland. UNISON says the funding for pay should be released now.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, who will be joining workers on picket lines across Northern Ireland, said: “Public sector workers in Northern Ireland are paying the price for political inaction.

“Health, care, school and other public service employees are hugely frustrated. Public sector workers never want to strike. But this intolerable situation has left them with no other option.

“NHS workers in the rest of the UK have had their wage rise for this year, but their colleagues in Northern Ireland have been left in limbo. Education support services workers have not had their long overdue pay and grading review funded either.

“Chris Heaton-Harris has said there’s money available for pay. That money needs to be released. Everyone wants to see an executive back up and running at Stormont, but public servants shouldn’t be caught in the middle.

“The secretary of state needs to do the right thing and do it now. Workers across public services in Northern Ireland should not have to wait a moment longer.’’

Notes to editors:
– UNISON members working across health and social care services in Northern Ireland have been undertaking industrial action for over 12 months. During this time, they have seen NHS workers in England, Scotland and Wales all receive a pay rise, but no wage offer has been made to them.
– In November, UNISON members in education services in Northern Ireland went on strike over the failure of the education authority to reform its pay and grading structure. The funding for this has also failed to materialise.
– Striking workers will take part in a number of marches and rallies across Northern Ireland today. Locations and details are available here:
https://www.ictuni.org/news/updated-info-ahead-strikesrallies-18th-january
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
John Patrick Clayton M: 07508 080386 E: j.clayton@unison.co.uk

The article Westminster government must unlock funding for Northern Ireland public sector pay rise now first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Westminster government must unlock funding for Northern Ireland public sector pay rise now

The government must release funding so health, education and other public sector workers in Northern Ireland can have their pay disputes resolved, says UNISON today (Thursday).  

The call comes as thousands of health, care, school and other public sector workers, belonging to UNISON and 14 other unions, are to take strike action today, following the Westminster government’s ongoing failure to provide the funding needed to resolve pay disputes, says the union.

The action, which is expected to be Northern Ireland’s biggest public sector strike in recent history, takes place in the continuing absence of a Northern Ireland executive at Stormont, and the failure of the Northern Ireland secretary to release funding that he says is available for public sector pay. 

The UK government says it has set aside £600m to settle public sector pay claims as part of a £3.3bn financial package to support the return of devolution in Northern Ireland. UNISON says the funding for pay should be released now.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, who will be joining workers on picket lines across Northern Ireland, said: “Public sector workers in Northern Ireland are paying the price for political inaction.

“Health, care, school and other public service employees are hugely frustrated. Public sector workers never want to strike. But this intolerable situation has left them with no other option.

“NHS workers in the rest of the UK have had their wage rise for this year, but their colleagues in Northern Ireland have been left in limbo. Education support services workers have not had their long overdue pay and grading review funded either.

“Chris Heaton-Harris has said there’s money available for pay. That money needs to be released. Everyone wants to see an executive back up and running at Stormont, but public servants shouldn’t be caught in the middle.

“The secretary of state needs to do the right thing and do it now. Workers across public services in Northern Ireland should not have to wait a moment longer.’’

Notes to editors:
– UNISON members working across health and social care services in Northern Ireland have been undertaking industrial action for over 12 months. During this time, they have seen NHS workers in England, Scotland and Wales all receive a pay rise, but no wage offer has been made to them.
– In November, UNISON members in education services in Northern Ireland went on strike over the failure of the education authority to reform its pay and grading structure. The funding for this has also failed to materialise.
– Striking workers will take part in a number of marches and rallies across Northern Ireland today. Locations and details are available here:
https://www.ictuni.org/news/updated-info-ahead-strikesrallies-18th-january
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
John Patrick Clayton M: 07508 080386 E: j.clayton@unison.co.uk

The article Westminster government must unlock funding for Northern Ireland public sector pay rise now first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Threat to block public sector pay rises proves government’s out of ideas, says UNISON

Commenting on reports today (Saturday) that ministers are considering rejecting the recommendations of several public sector pay review bodies, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said:
“In the last pay round, the government spent months hiding behind the NHS pay review body (PRB). Ridiculous claims ministers couldn’t intervene with the PRB led to strikes and much needless disruption to patients and services.
“For the prime minister to be pondering blocking the other pay review bodies is utterly farcical.
“It’s time to ditch this outmoded way of setting pay in essential services. Direct talks with unions, employers and ministers would be better for everyone.
“The Covid inquiry is hearing how investment-starved public services with too few staff were ill prepared for the pandemic.
“Pay is key to turning around the staffing emergency. And reckless talk like this will prompt even more essential workers to quit for pastures new.
“This is an out-of-touch, out-of-ideas government. The case for an early general election grows stronger by the day.”

Notes to editors: 

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.  

Media contact:  

Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk  

The article Threat to block public sector pay rises proves government’s out of ideas, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Budget must safeguard services by boosting pay

Commenting on new TUC research suggesting public services face a workforce exodus, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said today (Tuesday):

“Decent public services are the bedrock of any society. But they can’t exist without people to run them.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to fathom that pay is key to keeping and attracting a motivated workforce.

“The government must invest in pay in the budget so schools, hospitals, town halls and care homes can better compete with wages in the private sector. That would help boost staffing levels for everyone’s benefit.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Budget must safeguard services by boosting pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Fair pay is the way to protect public services as high inflation continues

Commenting on new figures published today (Wednesday), showing inflation remains near a four-decade high, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“There’s no hint of an end to the price-rise nightmare for millions.

“Wage increases are miles off the recent leaps in food and energy costs. It’s even worse for public service employees.

“Ministers have to understand that unless workers are paid fairly to help them weather increased prices, essential services will never recover for the public.

“Chronic staff shortages in health, local government and education cannot be fixed if workers continue to quit for better pay elsewhere.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Fair pay is the way to protect public services as high inflation continues first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ministers must pay workers fairly to protect public services

Commenting on new figures today (Tuesday) from the Office for National Statistics showing public sector pay rises are still way below inflation and significantly less than those in the private sector, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“When it comes to pay, the people providing vital public services are being treated as also-rans.

“It’s no wonder there are chronic staff shortages in health, care, local government and education, when the pay is far better elsewhere. Workers are scared for the future when they see their wages no longer cover the bills.

“Ministers must wake up and realise that essential services will fall apart unless public sector employees are paid fairly.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers must pay workers fairly to protect public services first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Chancellor mustn’t ignore public services in his economic vision

Responding to the chancellor of the exchequer’s speech today (Friday) about driving UK economic growth, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Jeremy Hunt’s grand vision for the future completely ignores vital public services.

“The chancellor holds the key to unlock the damaging health pay dispute and rebuild the NHS, but he’s not even trying.

“No plan for the economy can succeed unless the government also focuses on essential services.

“Paying proper wages will halt the staff exodus and mean there’s more money to spend in the local high street.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union and the largest union in the NHS and in the ambulance sector. It has more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Press contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Chancellor mustn’t ignore public services in his economic vision first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ministers must give proper public sector wage rises or services will be beyond saving

Responding to the transport secretary Mark Harper’s comments today (Sunday) that public sector pay rises are unaffordable, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Public service workers just can’t go on taking what amount to pay cuts year after year. They and their families are at rock bottom.

“Many are leaving or have already left to find better paid work in other sectors to help them pay their soaring bills.

“Ministers must understand that unless they give proper wage rises, there’ll be no one left to look after our health, care for the vulnerable, run schools and provide essential community services.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers must give proper public sector wage rises or services will be beyond saving first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Nothing in statement to halt pay crisis across public services

Commenting on the autumn statement today (Thursday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The previous Conservative government trashed the economy. But the chancellor behaves likes it’s nothing to do with him. Millions will be feeling the financial pain for years to come.

“Super-high inflation means callous cutbacks are on the cards for essential services. Everyone’s paying the price for getting the Conservatives out of the mess they alone created.

“The government acts like there’s no public sector pay or workforce crisis. Nothing was said today to change the minds of NHS staff currently voting on strike action.

“Health worker wages must be boosted now to prevent a damaging dispute this winter. Otherwise, the NHS can’t hang on to experienced staff, halt the damaging exodus of key workers or improve wait times for patients.

“Essential services need staff or they can’t deliver. That might not matter to the government, but it’s incredibly important to the public.

“It’s time for this inept government to step aside for one that would see well-funded public services as a driver of the economic growth the UK so desperately needs.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Nothing in statement to halt pay crisis across public services first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Public sector wage slump matters to us all, says UNISON

Commenting on the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics showing wages in the private sector grew by 6.6% in the year to September, but those in the public sector by just 2.2%, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Workers everywhere are struggling to make their wages go far enough. But the huge inflation hit is being felt the hardest across the UK’s public services.

“Lower pay is driving experienced staff away from hospitals, schools, care homes, councils and other essential services, delivering employees to other sectors paying more.

“But flagging wages in the public sector matter to each and every one of us. Without enough workers, public services can’t support, protect and care for communities, and society suffers.

“The government must see key services as a driver of economic growth, not a drain on the public purse. The autumn statement is the time to start doing that.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Public sector wage slump matters to us all, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.