Pay parity and safe staffing: nurses' views from the picket lines
Posted 18 January 2024 - 08:00
Nurses in Northern Ireland took to picket lines today amid failure to implement a pay award that would bring them in line with colleagues across the UK
Nurses in Northern Ireland took to picket lines today in their ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.
Members of RCN Northern Ireland are joining other unions in a day of industrial action over the failure to implement a pay award for 2023-24 that would bring them in line with colleagues across the UK.
Today our members are joining workers from across the country and taking strike action. They are braving the cold at Antrim Area Hospital. It shouldn’t have come to this, but pay for nursing staff in Northern Ireland has fallen behind the rest of the UK. #RCNStrike pic.twitter.com/xJHhPxVriX
— RCN Northern Ireland (@RCN_NI) January 18, 2024
RCN members at some 15 hospitals across the country are protesting at the lack of pay parity from the beginning of their shift until 1pm, with other public sector workers including midwives, radiographers and teachers across Northern Ireland also staging walkouts.
It's early. It's cold. But Nurses are here to fight for fair pay and for safe staffing. #RCNStrike #FairPayForNursing pic.twitter.com/grjDHVgjhl
— Harry Eccles (@Heccles94) January 18, 2024
Other unions taking part in the ‘generalised day of action’ include Unison, GMB and Unite.
RCN Northern Ireland said earlier this month that nurses there had been left with no choice but to take part in strikes as the lack of a functioning devolved legislature in the country amid a political impasse has slowed progress on pay talks.
What’s happening to nurses in Northern Ireland is immoral, says Pat Cullen
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said in a message to members: ‘We’ve said time and time again we won’t stand by and allow politicians to continue to decimate our NHS. We will stand by our patients and we will continue to work for our patients.
Members, staff and reps at the Ulster Hospital this morning. #RCNStrike #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/sXTy7bSln5
— RCN Northern Ireland (@RCN_NI) January 18, 2024
‘It’s immoral what’s happening to nurses in Northern Ireland – once again seeing their pay drop behind that of nurses across the other countries of the UK. Our patients are sitting on waiting lists year after year because our NHS is crumbling at the seams. So our nurses will not stand by and allow this to continue to happen.’
The fight for pay parity is one for basic fairness.
— The RCN (@theRCN) January 16, 2024
As we gear up for #RCNStrike action in Northern Ireland on Thursday, check out our members employed by the Care Plus Group who are also fighting for pay parity.
Watch the full video here: https://t.co/kN2UllWRXu pic.twitter.com/MnR8KlJ4GO
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) confirmed this month that a pay package is ‘on the table’ and would be available on ‘day one of an incoming Northern Ireland Executive to take up’.
Another birthday standing on a picket line supporting #FairPayForNursing with this great bunch from @RCN_NI.
— John Considine (@considine_john) January 18, 2024
Four years on, I cannot believe we’re here again. But, our members won’t let up until they’ve got pay parity.
Come on the nurses 💪💪 @theRCN pic.twitter.com/UbecJZ2Ceo
An NIO spokesperson said the UK government had provided up to £584 million in funding to address public sector pay and more than £1 billion to stabilise the country’s public sector services.
'I don't understand why they're paid less than in England'
RCN nurse of the year 2021 Nicola Bailey, who revolutionised sexual healthcare in Northern Ireland, said former colleagues describe their working situation as ‘dire’.
‘They’re saying the situation is just so dire at the minute – you’re either working extra shifts, you’re struggling short on your shift, the cost of living crisis is rising and yet pay isn’t going anywhere.
‘There’s no forward planning whether they’re going to get more money or not. To this day I don’t understand why they’re paid less than England when they’re part of the United Kingdom – I just don’t get how they can do that variance.’
Nurses stand in solidarity with their colleagues in Northern Ireland
Ms Bailey, who previously worked for Belfast Health and Social Care Trust but now works in England, said nurses stood in solidarity with their colleagues in Northern Ireland.
‘Every nurse that stands beside each other is saying the same thing – it’s just not about the pay for us: it’s about patient safety and patient concern, but also about being valued for what we’re worth.
‘At the end of the day, if you didn’t have nurses to staff the wards, who’s going to staff your wards? It’s incredible where nursing is going and what we’re achieving, but at the end of the day we need the pay to actually show it.’
Unison says public servants shouldn’t be ‘caught in the middle’
Unison urged the Westminster government to release the funding as soon as possible to resolve the dispute.
Public sector workers never want to strike. But this intolerable situation has left them with no other option.
— Christina McAnea (@cmcanea) January 18, 2024
Chris Heaton-Harris has said there’s money available for pay.
Workers across public services in Northern Ireland should not have to wait a moment longer
General secretary Christina McAnea labelled the situation 'intolerable'.
Ms McAnea said: ‘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.’
At the Picket Line Craigavon Area Hospital @RCN_NI @theRCN @EjKearney #FairPayForNI #FairPayforNursing #SafeStaffingSavesLives pic.twitter.com/EExly8RDvE
— Lena (@LenaJohnsonS) January 18, 2024
She said Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris had said there was money available for pay. Ms McAnea added: ‘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.’
As @RCN_NI members prepare to return to the picket lines tomorrow for #RCNStrike action, our General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen shares her message of solidarity. pic.twitter.com/Kcu52OxKNZ
— The RCN (@theRCN) January 17, 2024
Nurses across the UK express their support
Nurses across the UK expressed their solidarity with colleagues in Northern Ireland, who are braving below-freezing temperatures to take a stand for pay parity with the rest of the UK.
📣 Solidarity with all public sector workers in Northern Ireland taking strike action today! pic.twitter.com/7kX3tIxRj4
— NHS Workers Say NO! (@NurseSayNO) January 18, 2024
Solidarity with all of our nursing colleagues in Northern Ireland today, who are striking. I stand with you! #RCNStrikeNI #EnoughIsEnough https://t.co/m7UQ6LSX1w
— Alisha Kelly #FairPayForNursing (@AlishaKellyB) January 18, 2024
Nursing is a wonderful profession to be proud of!
— Sheila Sobrany RGN RNT (President of the RCN) (@SheilaSobrany) January 18, 2024
Our Nursing Workforce in Northern Ireland is out in freezing temperatures striking for #FairPayForNursing as members of the @theRCN, they are hoping the government will pull together and make a decision now to start negotiations… https://t.co/Lno8dAUd4H
Northern Ireland chief nurse says she understands 'deep-seated reasons' behind the action
Northern Ireland chief nursing officer Maria McIlgorm wrote to nursing staff ahead of the strikes, saying she understood the ‘deep-seated reasons’ behind the action.
She added: ‘In again expressing my sincere thanks to each of you for your work, I know that you deserve more than just words of gratitude.’
To all my nursing and midwifery colleagues, I am very conscious of the severe pressures that you are working through day and daily in our health service and particularly during this winter.
— CNO Northern Ireland (@CNO_NI) January 17, 2024
We will continue to work together to navigate these difficult times. https://t.co/TIKfZ93TDz
Strike locations for RCN members can be found here on the RCN website.
In other news