Trade Unions, UNISON and the Royal Colleges of Nursing (RCN) have announced they are suspending industrial action so they can ballot members on the deal put on the table by the Department of Health.

Thousands of heath care professionals took to the picket lines across Northern Ireland over dangerous staffing levels and pay parity.

With the restoration of government at Stormont, new Health Minister Robin Swann of the Ulster Unionists announced plans to give nurses pay parity with England and introduce measures to deal with understaffing.

This morning UNISON’s Health Leadership met to consider a Framework Agreement in relation to the long running industrial dispute on pay parity and safe staffing in the health service.

The agreement was reached last night after many hours of intensive negotiations between the trade union group and the Department of Health. 

UNISON Head of Bargaining Anne Speed, the lead Trade Union negotiator said representatives from across all Health Trusts and health service agencies and bodies have now considered a proposed Framework Agreement to resolve our industrial dispute.

"This Framework Agreement has been endorsed by the Minister for Health and restores pay parity with health workers in England with effect from 1st April 2019. It also sets out a funded framework for safe staffing.

"We are now balloting our membership with a recommendation to accept. Our industrial action is suspended for the duration of the ballot.”  

UNISON Regional Secretary, Patricia McKeown said that while it was positive that Mr. Swann and the Executive kept their word, credit had to go to "our members" for their incredible determination and compassion and the public fortheir unswerving support in "getting us close to the resolution of this dispute".

"Over the past 7 weeks our 26,000 members in the health service have each played a crucial role in the action. Thousands of them have also taken direct strike action at great personal cost. Their action has not been easy. No one simply walked away and closed the doors behind them. Instead they have spent weeks engaging with their employers on the detailed work of ensuring emergency cover and protection for the most vulnerable patients.

"The public have supported them throughout, despite enduring thousands of cancellations in a health system bursting at the seams. They understood that someone had to call a halt to the rapid decline of our vital health and social services system. On behalf of all UNISON members I extend our heartfelt gratitude to them.

"That this dispute put incredible pressure on our elected politicians is without doubt. That it was cynically used as leverage by the UK Government is also self-evident. It has played a critical role in the return of devolved government and it has rightfully placed the health and wellbeing of the People of Northern Ireland back the top of the political agenda.

"We believe that we will have a positive response from our members. We are determined to get back to the core business of tending to the health needs of our people. This time we expect to be listened to and to play a full role in re-building our health service for the future.”

Health Minister Robin Swann has warmly welcomed announcements by health unions Unison and RCN suspending industrial action.

The Minister said: “This has been a very difficult time but I believe everyone across the health and social care system can now move forward together.

“Today’s announcements will be welcomed by many – not least by patients and of course staff who took industrial action with a very heavy heart.

“I want to again pay a heartfelt tribute to our nurses and other health workers and the great work they do. Only yesterday, we saw figures showing that the number of compliments in our health service far outnumbers the number of complaints.

“This illustrates the great health care that is provided day and daily across Northern Ireland, despite all the serious problems facing the system. I recognise, of course, that there is still a lot of work to be done.”

The Minister added: “My personal thanks go to everyone involved in yesterday’s intensive discussions on finalising an agreement.

“I also want place on record my appreciation of the hard work done by Department of Health officials. As I said in the Assembly, this whole situation not only put our health workers in an invidious position but our officials too.

“It needed a Minister and an Executive to secure a resolution, and I am delighted that we have achieved it in our first week.

“The Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Charlotte McArdle, has provided invaluable input on getting this agreement across the line, demonstrating her strong commitment to the profession.”

 

Newly appointed Chair of the Health Committee, Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew MLA, has welcomed today’s announcement by health unions that they will suspending their industrial action.

Speaking following the announcement, Colm Gildernew said: “I welcome the decision by health unions to suspend planned health strikes and industrial action.

Mr. Gildernew said there must be an inclusive approach to drafting the safe staffing plan which recognises and includes the important contribution of health unions and workers.

"I commend the fortitude of the health workers and their representatives during the industrial action and I welcome their decision to suspend the strike having secured pay parity and a commitment to safe staffing levels.

“The workers were left no other option and took the decision to strike in the best interests of staff and patients alike.

“It is vitally important that moving forward both the British and Irish Governments deliver on their financial commitments in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ deal to allow for the proper resourcing of the health and social care service, education and other public services.

“Sinn Féin will continue to support our health and social care staff in the time ahead and work with the Minister and the Department of Health to ensure these commitments are lived up to.”