Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Change). Unite today has served notice of a ballot of its members in Northern Ireland's councils, the Education Authority and Housing Executive on strike action in pursuit of a 10 percent pay increase. Teachers were joined at a number of rallies across Northern Ireland by striking workers from the health unions. While Stormont remains in limbo, she said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his ministers were missing in action and called on them to make a realistic pay offer. In the absence of a functioning Stormont executive, the responsibility for this strike lies squarely with Rishi Sunak who has failed to show leadership and ensure that NHS bosses made a realistic offer to the workers who keep our health and social care services running. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better Fairer Ireland after the Pandemic, Available from all good bookshops or online from www.theliffeypress.com, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Overwhelming 93 per cent vote for industrial action at Cargotec in fake TUPEdispute, Thousands of Unite health members to join Northern Ireland-wide strike in demand for fair wages and safestaffing. In January, more than 20,000 healthcare staff, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Fungus case forces Jack Daniels to halt construction, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, NFL hopeful accused of racing in deadly car crash, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: With chronic low pay making it impossible to recruit and retain essential health workers, the health service in Northern Ireland is facing an existential crisis.. "The hospitals are choc-a-block. It is part of 18 planned days of industrial action. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, How fake copyright complaints are muzzling journalists, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Unite the union has confirmed that it has given the Northern Ireland Housing Executive seven day notice of a strike action over pay. In England and Wales, ambulance workers are to join nurses in taking strike action on 6 February in what will be the biggest NHS walkout in this dispute. This union will not accept any attempt to undermine our members terms and conditions now or in the future. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better Fairer Ireland after the Pandemic, Available from all good bookshops or online from www.theliffeypress.com, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Members in Northern Ireland, like their colleagues elsewhere, deserve a fair increase paid quickly." Learn more. Thousands of education and health workers in Northern Ireland have taken part in strike action on Tuesday. The first strike will occur for the four day production period on Monday 11 April and be followed up the week after Easter with a further four day stoppage on 25 April. Under trade union law, emergency cover will still be provided and staff can leave the picket lines to attend. The local council . (LogOut/ HOT. The Unite union, which represents healthcare staff in Northern Ireland, has moved a planned strike to coincide with industrial action by teachers. In the absence of a functioning Stormont Executive, prime minister Rishi Sunak needs to show someleadership,bang some headstogether, make surethatwe can get back to negotiations and offer NHS workers inNorthern Ireland a better deal.. He said "a huge amount" of healthcare workers had recently joined unions, which he hoped sent "a strong message out to the government that their attacks on unions isn't working". Unite confirms all out strike action will commence at Belfast Bakery from 6am on Sunday, March 5 Secondly, it was decided to carry out a ballot for industrial action, to include both action short of a strike as well as strike action. The strike is a result of the failure to deliver a cost of living pay increase. "We're not going to be down the same track again in another three or four years' time," he said. The College's work includes raising awareness of the impact of low incomes on health outcomes but bosses have imposed a 2.5 per cent pay increase on its own staff which is a significant . (LogOut/ Teachers and school leaders in Northern Ireland went on strike for 12 hours last week as part of their pay dispute and teachers in the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and NASUWT unions will also start a wave of national strikes on Tuesday. Border Force staff are also striking at the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Dover and at the Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal, with . Two meetings of Council staff were held last week in Newry and Downpatrick, hosted by the four trade unions representing workers of all grades NIPSA, SIPTU, GMB and Unite. Lead regional officer for Unite in health in Northern Ireland, Kevin McAdam confirmed the unions members would be joining the picket lines with members of other health unions with a first 24-hour action set for January 26. News Sport Finance Unite represents 4,000 workers across the health and social care trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). The Department of Health said the strikes would undoubtedly impacts patient care. Hovis has previously said its Belfast operation produces 35% of all bread sold in Northern Ireland. 92 per cent voted in favour of action short of strike, 8 per cent voted against action short of strike. (LogOut/ The University and College Union (UCU) has said that strike action has been "paused". (c) Sky News 2023: Teachers' strike: 200,000 to walk out in three days of industrial action over pay Today, members of the National Education Union (NEU) in . Health visitor Lisa Heaney added: "There's more demands, there's more support needed for the families we're going out to visit and we don't have the staff to facilitate that.". Last month, around 20,000 healthcare staff in Northern Ireland took also took part in a one day strike. THOUSANDS of health workers will once again join picket lines tomorrow over an existential crisis facing the NHS. . Mr McAdam, Unite's Northern Ireland representative, said: "We felt it was really important to move the dates to the 21st (February) to coincide with teachers to demonstrate that there are two important things in life, one is health and the other is education.". The NASUWT has been calling for a 12% increase in salaries, following deadlock over a pay deal for the past year. The union representing transit operators in the Fraser Valley plans to significantly escalate its job action on Monday. The industrial action follows a ballot of Unite members which returned a 95.30 percent vote for strike. "The NHS is in a terrible state and nowhere is worse than in Northern Ireland," she said. Action by RMT and Aslef unions over pensions and staffing will hit service on day of budget Tube workers in the RMT union will strike on 15 March, joining Aslef in a 24-hour stoppage that will . The strike did not impact Northern Ireland. Firstly, it was decided to call for a vote of no confidence in the current Chief Executive. Edel McInerney, vice president of the NEU Northern Ireland, said: "It's been such a paltry sum that's been offered that actually in fact it's a pay cut that they're offering us, not a pay deal - we're looking for fair pay. Health workers to get recommended pay award, Ambulance waits of 24 hours as pressure mounts, NI nurses take part in second day of strike action, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Of those balloted, 83 per cent voted in favour of strike action,17 per cent voted against strike action. The four teaching unions involved were the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT); the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO); the Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) and the National Education Union (NEU). Ambulance workers will be among those returning to the picket lines over pay demands and safer staffing levels. Although the British Government has promised a 1,400 pay award for 2022-23, and have said they are willing to discuss pay levels in the new financial year, unions have said this still falls well below the rate of inflation. The problem is we don't know where the money would come from for any revised pay deal. Workers of Unite the union have voted by a margin of more than 95 percent for strike action in pursuit of a cost of living pay increase at Hovis, the leading Belfast Bakery. are to join nurses in taking strike action on 6 February in what will be the biggest NHS walkout in this dispute. Health workers in the Nipsa and Unison trade unions will also be taking part in. Action by Unite members continues in Northern Ireland. Teachers' strike. Our members will be joining members of other health trade unions on the picket lines tomorrow, and Unite has already notified employers that we will also be taking action on 16, 17, 23 and 24 February. It is now clear that this bonus scheme is broken beyond repair and Managements refusal to integrate this productivity mechanism into payscales has left the workforce with no alternative but to take strike action. As we approach February, unions, including teaching unions, are planning a joint hit. Change). The industrial action follows a ballot of Unite members which returned a . Emergency cover will still be in place during the strikes, meaning paramedics will be able to leave to cover the most serious calls. "Our members are not prepared to stand by while their pay packets shrink and their living costs rise," he said. Road Workers demand productivity payment be integrated into payscales to remove potential mechanism for pay victimization. A union representing bakery workers in Belfast has warned that upcoming strike action could impact bread supplies across Northern Ireland. Read about our approach to external linking. In the absence of action to address our members pay claim, we have been left with no alternative but to notify employers of strike action.. Workers at Newry, Mourne & Down District Council prepare to return to industrial action for fairtreatment. Striking teachers hold a rally . 12 weeks for 12. Strike at Belfast Hovis bakery enters fifth day, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. STORY: Standing alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a news conference in Windsor, Sunak said the two sides had agreed to ease trade rules for the British province and give its lawmakers more control over the laws they have to follow. It is the second day of regional walkouts by the National Education Union (NEU) after teachers took strike action in the north of England on Monday. Roads Service maintenance workers out on the picket lines across Northern Ireland this morning as a week of strike action commences! Workers of Unite the union have voted by a margin of more than 95 percent for strike action in pursuit of a cost of living pay increase at Hovis, the leading Belfast Bakery. The strike was ended after staff accepted an 8% pay increase. The statement added that members were not only taking action over pay but in protest at staffing levels and travel reimbursement. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Explosive found in check-in luggage at US airport, Fungus case forces Jack Daniels to halt construction, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, West Africans to leave Tunisia after race row, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Fire knocks out half of Argentina's power grid. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, How fake copyright complaints are muzzling journalists, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. National Education Union (NEU) members mobilised on picket lines and in regional protests and rallies in northern England while Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) and NASUWT members struck in Scotland. "I have a warning for the government, we're not finished, we're not going anywhere, we have just started," she added. However, he said challenges were expected on Thursday and the NIAS would maintain the safety of patients with the greatest needs. (LogOut/ Unite represents 4,000 workers across the health and social care trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). The majority of teachers and school leaders in the region took part in a 12 -hour strike on. Nurses represented by the largest nursing union, the Royal College of Nursing, have paused strike action to enter talks with the government over pay, but the state-run NHS still faces a planned . More than two hundreds Unite members employed by the Roads Service of Northern Ireland will be joining with colleagues in the GMB in taking strike action for a week commencing Monday 27 th February.. Staff at the plant are seeking a 13.4% wage increase. Unite lead representative for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Norman Cunningham said stalemate at Stormont is not helping to resolve the issues. Mr Mulholland said meetings had been held between management and trade unions to ensure "life and limb" was protected during strike action and called on politicians to invest more money in healthcare services. In the recent year roads workers at some hubs have taken strike action over allegations of bullying and harassment and are now seeking to close down a mechanism which potentially leaves them subject to victimization by managers. Unions are pacing themselves they know they are in for the long haul. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Thursday's strike is for 24 hours as opposed to 12 which will have place more strain on patients and management. Workers, including ambulance service workers, Continue reading The company has managed to maintain profitability throughout and its profits for 2021 have been boosted through what they deemed a bargain purchase of assets which raised the groups headline (pre-tax) profits for the 14 months to the end of 2021 to 47.3 million. In Northern Ireland, 4000 social care workers and health professionals in Northern Ireland under union Unite are participating in their final day of strike action due to the effects of inflation . That mood is fuelled by an absence of local government and a feeling that no-one actually cares or even wants to engage. They appealed to the public to only call in life-threatening emergencies. "While these people make the bread, they also have to buy it," he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. Premium Powerups Explore Gaming. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:Unites members overwhelmingvotefor strike actionsignals their determination tosecurea cost of living pay increase and safe staffing for patients. RMT union members voted to strike after their demand for a 7% pay rise was rejected in favour of a 3% offer, and an initial three days of industrial action were scheduled for 21, 23 and 25 June, with further disruption taking place in July and August, and over the following autumn and winter. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham expressed her unions support for the Hovis workers as they prepare to take strike action: Hovis has enjoyed huge success during the Covid pandemic and in the period following it. In the absence of a new pay offer, a further day of strike action has now been planned on March 16. The Department of Health said it fully understood the frustration of staff but there was no scope for resolution at local level. But unions said that due to changes in pay scales many teachers would get less than 3.2%. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Workers at the Royal Victoria hospital went on strike in January, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. More than two hundreds Unite members employed by the Roads Service of Northern Ireland will be joining with colleagues in the GMB in taking strike action for a week commencing Monday 27th February. Northern Ireland Health and Social Care workers strike for improved pay. "This time it's about defending the fundamentals of the health service and unfortunately that means taking industrial action to get the message across," he added. Unite the union represents almost 4,000 health and social care workers across all five health trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. last took part in a one-day strike in December. 28 Feb 2023. National Education Union (NEU) members in England will walk out on Tuesday 28 February in the North, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber, and Wednesday 1 March in the East . Mr McKeever said workers' disposable income was being "eaten up by food inflation", adding that some Hovis employees had been forced to use foodbanks. Alan Philson, a nurse in Londonderry and Unite representative, told BBC Radio Foyle healthcare workers "can't deliver the care without investment". Workers, including ambulance service workers, are fighting for a fair pay rise and urgent action to avert an ` existential crisis' in the service. Cargotec is a successful multinational, generating over 4 billion in revenue during 2022. Paramedics, nurses and hospital staff on strike, Majority of NI teachers to hold half-day strike, Ambulance staff announce new strike dates, Students join staff on university picket line, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. The workforce in Hovis know that Unite has their back as they seek to win a cost of living increase from their employer.. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. There is a furious new attitude among health workers and it's being felt not only on strike days but every day at work. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The pair hold a press conference later in the afternoon. Union warns strike is likely to impact bread supplies on shelves across Northern Ireland.