RCN members vote to reject pay offer for nursing staff in Northern Ireland

The RCN’s consultation on HSC pay in Northern Ireland closed yesterday (21 March) with 55.85% of members rejecting a pay offer which falls short of pay parity with nursing colleagues in England. 44.15% voted to accept it.

We’ve advised the Health Minister Robin Swann of this result and that the RCN remains in dispute about the pay offer.

Following a meeting of the joint health trade unions, it was confirmed that the pay offer was accepted by the majority of other unions, despite the RCN’s vote to reject. It will therefore be implemented by the Department of Health.

Commenting on the ballot results, Rita Devlin, Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, said: “This vote to reject the pay offer that fell short of pay parity with colleagues in England is a message from our members in Northern Ireland that they will not tolerate being treated unequally and unfairly.

“While Northern Ireland has been in political turmoil over the past two years, nursing staff have continued to treat and care for patients, despite having no pay rise and facing unprecedented cost of living pressures. It has been disappointing to say the least that we couldn’t, at the bare minimum, reach a pay offer that is equal to others.

“The RCN remains in dispute and the RCN Northern Ireland Board, which is elected by our members, will be meeting as a matter of urgency to consider the results of our ballot and to determine the next steps. There is no doubt, though, that we have been given a mandate by members to fight even harder for fair pay for nursing staff, regardless of their postcode.”