Sunak makes a House of Commons statement setting out the UK-EU agreement. (c) Sky News 2023: Teachers' strike: 200,000 to walk out in three days of industrial action over pay Bus drivers with Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 561 have been . Massive 87 per cent average vote for strike action across Northern Ireland trusts. TENS of thousands of teachers launched three days of strike action today in their continuing battle for fair pay and funding for schools. Unites health and social care members will picket at hospitals across NIfrom 07:00hours. Unite represents 4,000 workers across the trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). BEST. A union representing bakery workers in Belfast has warned that upcoming strike action could impact bread supplies across Northern Ireland. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. The workers seek changes to their terms and conditions meaning the integration of a productivity bonus into their payscales. 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.. Northern Ireland representative Kevin McAdam said 87% of Unite's members had rejected a "below inflation pay award" with a vote in favour of strike action. (LogOut/ 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. It said that in some front-line social work teams 42% of posts are unfilled, leaving staff with "unsustainable caseloads". Unison, Nipsa and GMB members last took part in a one-day strike in December. Strikes Northern Ireland Monday 23 January 2023, 5:49pm The union says Ministers must drop their "resistance" to engage with health trade unions on pay. 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. The strike follows ballot across all five health trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service which returned an average 87 per cent vote in favour of strike action. As with all health service strikes, Unites members will be providing emergency cover during the period of the strike. Read about our approach to external linking. "All unions are uniting to say none of us are happy at the minute, it can't continue like this and something has to be done," she added. Anne Speed, from Unison, said the dispute was about more than pay. The dispute follows the companys refusal to engage meaningfully at the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court regarding their proposal to transfer workers under what Unite describes as a fake TUPE, meaning established jobs, pay and conditions could come under future attack. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak struck a deal with the European Union on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland on Monday, saying it would pave the way for a new chapter in London's relationship with the bloc. Deirdre Murphy, a staff nurse at Daisy Hill hospital in Newry, County Down, said the health service is "not on its knees, it's flat on the ground". 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. This vote was carried unanimously in both venues and must be seen as message to those in a position of influence, that this type of leader who cannot, or will not, honour negotiated agreements is not acceptable to our members or their staff. More than 20,000 healthcare staff in Northern Ireland have begun a one-day strike as part of a pay dispute. Alan Philson, a nurse in Londonderry and Unite representative, told BBC Radio Foyle healthcare workers "can't deliver the care without investment". Unions are pacing themselves they know they are in for the long haul. Teachers are staging a 12-hour strike, due to end at midday, in a dispute over pay and the future of the profession. BBC News NI has contacted Hovis for comment. 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). 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. The Unite union, which represents workers at the bakery, said the strike would shut down bread production if talks with Hovis management were unsuccessful. Fionnuala McTaggart, who has been teaching in north Belfast for three years, said there has been a noticeable increase in her workload that can be "really overwhelming at times". The industrial action follows a ballot of Unite members which returned a 95.30 percent vote for strike. But the statement said negotiations were taking place at a time of growing and unprecedented financial pressures within the education sector. Teachers' strike. 4000 members of Unite the union will join strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) at health and social care workplaces, across Northern Ireland. are to join nurses in taking strike action on 6 February in what will be the biggest NHS walkout in this dispute. Firstly, it was decided to call for a vote of no confidence in the current Chief Executive. 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. Unite the union announced six new strikes for ambulance workers over the next two months More days of strikes by ambulance workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been announced. 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. Roads Service maintenance workers in Unite commence one week strikeaction, 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. Unites health and social care members will picket at hospitals across NIfrom 07:00hours. would not settle the dispute as it was lower than inflation. "At the end of the day, it has to be safe for patients". Unite regional officer Sean McKeever said emergency talks were planned for Wednesday morning in an attempt to resolve the dispute. 4000 members of Unite the union will join strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) at health and social care workplaces, across Northern Ireland. Nipsa, which has more than 10,000 members, some of whom are nurses, said wages had been "progressively eroded through below inflation pay-rises and pay freezes". Unite the union has confirmed that its members working across the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland will be participating in an industrial campaign involving all health trade unions after they voted overwhelmingly for strike action in pursuit of a cost of living pay increase. THOUSANDS of health workers will once again join picket lines tomorrow over an existential crisis facing the NHS. last took part in a one-day strike in December. Unites Northern Ireland officer, Kevin McAdam, told the BBC: "We felt it was really important to move the dates to the (February 21) to coincide with teachers to demonstrate that there are two important things in life, one is health and the other is education.". Paramedics on strike will still be on standby to respond to the most serious calls. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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 . The local council . The group posted pre-tax profits of almost 50 million in 2021 and is a well-funded business with a strong balance sheet. Striking teachers hold a rally . Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Unite members across all five health trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service returned an . Northern Ireland representative Kevin McAdam said 87% of Unite's members had rejected. Strike action by the union was scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday, as well as 23 and 24 February. The Department of Health said the strikes would undoubtedly impacts patient care. The pair hold a press conference later in the afternoon. "We want safe staffing levels because one nurse can not do the job of three people, it is totally unsafe," she said. The Unite union, which represents workers at the bakery, said the strike would shut down bread production if talks with Hovis management were unsuccessful. 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 . This may be the first action of many but with no ministers in place it's hard to see who is listening. The Department of Education said guidance had been issued to help principals assess and prepare for strike action. Leo Varadkar was speaking as speculation mounts that a deal may be . If and when the strikes will end is unclear. 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. They mustget on and do so without delay.. Workers at the Apollo Road factory last walked out in 2021 in industrial action which lasted 11 days. The Unite union, which represents healthcare staff in Northern Ireland, has moved a planned strike to coincide with industrial action by teachers. They also have to keep members' morale up and the public on board. 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. In Northern Ireland many teachers were offered 3.2% for 2021/22 and 2022/23. The workers feel that management have weaponised the bonus scheme, a situation which is intolerable. (LogOut/ The majority of teachers and school leaders in the region took part in a 12 -hour strike on. unions said this would not settle the dispute as it was lower than inflation. Action by Unite members continues in Northern Ireland. The PM and ministers have been missing in actionbut it istheirjob to ensure that NHS bosses make a realistic offer to the workers who keep our health and social care services running. She said Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris should be in Northern Ireland "talking about the crisis in our health service". British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak struck a new deal with the European Union on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland on Monday, saying it would pave the way for a new chapter in London's . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. A further day of strike action will now take place on March 16. Unite has notified management of a series of dates for a campaign of industrial action at Caterpillar in Northern Ireland. The ballot follows a survey carried out by the PDA in December 2022, to which 80% of its members in Northern Ireland responded; 94% of whom called [] Emergency cover will still be in place during the strikes, meaning paramedics will be able to leave to cover the most serious calls. Unites members will be joining striking health workers from other health trade unions in marches to Belfast City Hall and other rallies across Northern Ireland in a show of solidarity for striking education workers. A senior minister and former hardline rebel on Brexit fought back tears last night as he backed Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland deal - and revealed the toll the past seven years have taken on his . Staff, who have just brought us through a global pandemic, are feeling weary, disheartened even exasperated. "We want respect and that respect should be reflected in getting an honest day's pay for an honest day's work, which we're not getting and which we haven't got. Unite represents 4,000 workers across the health and social care trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). The pay offer would mean another real terms pay cut and comes after eleven years of pay freezes. The strike action by members of the Unte trade union had a varied impact across Northern Ireland's 11 local councils, with some reporting all services up-and-running while others were forced to . Her school, along with many others, opened from 12.00 GMT, to allow children to access free school meals. Anne Speed, Unison NIs head of bargaining and representation, added: Members would prefer to be at work on February 21, but when you have had no response from any quarter to their just demand for protection against inflation, health workers justifiably believe they have once again to raise their voices. Unites lead regional officer for health in Northern Ireland, Kevin McAdam, said: Nobody should be in any doubt regarding our members determination to defend their living standards amidst an unprecedented cost of living crisis. In a show of solidarity for striking education workers, health workers will take part in a march to Belfast City Hall and at other rallies across Northern Ireland. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The strike pickets will be established at 8am on Monday 27 February and will last seven days and affect roads maintenance work across Northern Ireland. That mood is fuelled by an absence of local government and a feeling that no-one actually cares or even wants to engage. "Our members are not prepared to stand by while their pay packets shrink and their living costs rise," he said. Workers, including ambulance service workers, are fighting for a fair pay rise and urgent action to avert an ` existential crisis' in the service. In the absence of a functioning Stormont executive, the responsibility for resolving this disputefalls tothe UK government. Civil servants have been placed in the unenviable position that they're having to implement decisions that they're not paid to do. The move from Unite, Unison and Nipsa members, will involve some nurses, ambulance and hospital support staff. However, he said challenges were expected on Thursday and the NIAS would maintain the safety of patients with the greatest needs. Road users have been urged to be extra careful and prepare for potential delays in the event of unforeseen incidents ahead of planned industrial action by members of the GMB and Unite unions. NUJ members working for BBC Local have overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action over the corporation's plans to cut local radio and have called a 24-hour strike starting at 11am on March 15, until the same time the following day, which will hit coverage of the Spring budget. As a result, there will be a reduced level . It said management remained committed to reaching a resolution that ensured teachers were fairly remunerated. The industrial action follows a ballot of Unite members which returned a 95.30 percent vote for strike. So there's negotiations going on at the minute but I don't see anything happening but a strike. Teachers in Northern Ireland are at "breaking point", a leading trade union official has said. Road Workers demand productivity payment be integrated into payscales to remove potential mechanism for pay victimization. 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. 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. Unite has established a 70 million strike fund which we are deploying to back workers in struggle. In January, 20,000 healthcare staff in Northern Ireland, including ambulance staff and nurses, took part in a one-day strike as part of a dispute over pay. Unite has notified the employer that . The strike pickets will be established at 8am on Monday 27 February and will last seven days and affect roads maintenance work across Northern Ireland. 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.. PDA Union has agreed how to proceed towards NHS Strike Action; What to do when faced with an industrial action picket line; PDA update on industrial action: why, how, and when strikes are called; Not yet a PDA member? Mr McKeever said workers' disposable income was being "eaten up by food inflation", adding that some Hovis employees had been forced to use foodbanks. ", Health staff set dates for action over pay dispute. Unite's Northern Ireland Officer Gareth Scott said employers were to blame for the resumption of strike action. It has a responsibility to treat this workforce with dignity and respect. It is part of 18 planned days of industrial action. The Unite Union, which represents around 4,000 health. 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. Standing alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a news conference in Windsor, Sunak said the two sides . The NEU has estimated that around 200,000 members across England and Wales . 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. BBC First ballot results. "If we don't take a stand we wont have a health service. Unite the union represents almost 4,000 health and social care workers across all five health trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. He is currently in the US on trade talks. 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