18/11/2019
Health Staff Vote On Industrial Action
The Unite union is to ballot its local NHS staff on whether to join the industrial action signalled by other health unions.
Some 4,000 healthcare staff will vote in the ballot, which opens on Monday 18 November.
It comes as other unions move for strike action to ensure NHS staff in Northern Ireland are not left behind the rest of their colleagues in the UK.
Just last week, nurses voted to strike over staffing numbers and pay disputes.
The Unite ballot will include psychologists, speech and language therapists, pathology laboratory staff, community nurses, pharmacists and support staff.
Lead officer for Health Kevin McAdam explained the strike ballot action: "We are responding to our members' request to join the industrial action signalled by other trade unions in the health sector. We are confident we will get a resounding response to the ballot that will say clearly to the Department of Health – our members are worth the same as their colleagues across the water. Our patients deserve the same treatment. We must stop the drain from our heath service in Northern Ireland. We won't be left behind!"
The outcome of the ballot will be known on 02 December.
(JG/CM)
Some 4,000 healthcare staff will vote in the ballot, which opens on Monday 18 November.
It comes as other unions move for strike action to ensure NHS staff in Northern Ireland are not left behind the rest of their colleagues in the UK.
Just last week, nurses voted to strike over staffing numbers and pay disputes.
The Unite ballot will include psychologists, speech and language therapists, pathology laboratory staff, community nurses, pharmacists and support staff.
Lead officer for Health Kevin McAdam explained the strike ballot action: "We are responding to our members' request to join the industrial action signalled by other trade unions in the health sector. We are confident we will get a resounding response to the ballot that will say clearly to the Department of Health – our members are worth the same as their colleagues across the water. Our patients deserve the same treatment. We must stop the drain from our heath service in Northern Ireland. We won't be left behind!"
The outcome of the ballot will be known on 02 December.
(JG/CM)
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