Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PAY DEAL FOR HEALTH HEROES
Hard-working NHS workers in Northern Ireland given hope after wages snub
HEALTH staff in Northern Ireland could finally be getting a pay rise.
Stormont chiefs are making “progress” in pay talks and hope to “announce something concrete in the near future”. It came in the wake of negotiations over a Uk-wide pay deal which has seen NHS staff get more money in Britain but not here.
Unison’s Conor Mccarthy added: “We don’t want a border down the Irish Sea when it comes to pay.”
THE Department of Health’s most senior official yesterday hinted at a possible breakthrough in a pay dispute with staff.
Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly told a conference senior officials “are making progress with our efforts to be able to implement the 2018 pay award”.
The move comes amid growing tensions between NHS workers in Northern Ireland and bosses over a Ukwide deal which has seen staff in Britain awarded significant rises while those here have yet to get their extra money.
There has been a dispute in Northern Ireland over why the national pay award, for 6.5% over three years, has not appeared in local pay cheques.
Stormont sources have indicating part of the problem lies with the lack of a public sector pay agreement being signed off by the Department of Finance.
Union sources have accused department heads of “hiding” behind issues such as the Hightown incinerator ruling to avoid paying the money.
At his speech to Northern Ireland’s Allied Health Professionals and Health Scientists Conference at the La Mon Hotel, Mr Pengelly suggested there has been movement on the pay issue.
He told delegates the health service “needs to attract and retain the best talent and become the employer of choice”.
He added: “In that context I am pleased to highlight we are making progress with our efforts to be able to implement the 2018 pay award, and I hope to be in a position to announce something concrete in the near future.”
Reacting to the news, Unison’s Conor Mccarthy acknowledged there is some “optimism” but said questions remain over the detail of any looming deal. He added: “We’ve made it clear that anything less than pay parity with our colleagues in London, Manchester or Birmingham is no good.
“We believe there is some movement, especially with us and other bodies balloting for industrial action but we need to see the detail.
We’ve made it clear to the DUP about fighting for this increase in Parliament.
“We don’t want a border down the Irish Sea when it comes to NHS pay with people in Birmingham, getting more than they do in Belfast.”
Janice Smyth, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland said pressure is on to reach a pay deal.
She added: “The RCN, as in part of a trade union collective, has put a proposal to the Department of Health and employers about pay for 2018-2019 within the HSC. Time is fast running out to ensure that staff employed within the service receive a pay award.
“The Permanent Secretary, in his speech at the Allied Health Professionals and Health Scientists Conference and Awards Ceremony, has indicated his commitment to attracting and retaining staff within our system.
“The Permanent Secretary clearly recognises the link between pay and staff recruitment/retention and is aware this must be reflected in wages.”
We are making efforts yo implement 2018 pay award RICHARD PENGELLY BELFAST YESTERDAY