STATEMENT FROM PATRICIA McKEOWN, REGIONAL SECRETARY
VICTORY FOR UNISON CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE LOWEST PAID!
UNISON welcomes the Health Minister’s decision to retain weekly and fortnightly pay for health workers following UNISON’s intensive campaign and our recent decision to ballot for strike action.
The Minister has recognised that women workers, low paid and part time particularly, would be adversely affected by the change.
We note that the Minister has ‘halted’ the move to single pay frequency rather than completely abandoning it. Consequently UNISON will halt our strike ballot. Many changes need to be made to health service pay including the introduction of a Living Wage and the need to tackle the fact that health workers in Northern Ireland have fallen behind the pay levels of their counterparts in GB. The Minister’s decision now clears the way for meaningful negotiations on these key issues.
We take this opportunity to pay tribute to our members who have fought to retain weekly and fortnightly pay with great dignity and determination. They have secured a victory on behalf of the lowest paid workers in the health service and women carers, cleaners and caterers in particularly.
Our mission now is to ensure that all staff in the affected grades and jobs are respected, valued and properly rewarded for their important contribution to the health care team.
END STATEMENT
