Stormont’s Health Minister has expressed regret over an “elongated and complicated” process after striking a pay deal with unions to avoid crippling winter strike action.
Mike Nesbitt confirmed on Tuesday evening that a pay rise offer of 5.5% would match offers given to healthcare workers in England and Wales.
Unison received a formal written commitment that pay parity will be maintained for 2024/25 as a payment will be paid in two instalments.
Mr Nesbitt welcomed “a positive trade union response” to his settlement proposal, which he insisted will mirror the value of the increases recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body.
“I was extremely keen that health workers would not have to go through Christmas thinking they might need to take industrial action to get their pay awards,” he said in a statement.
“Like the unions, I am disappointed we couldn’t get to this point in a quicker, cleaner manner.
“I regret that this year’s pay process has been so elongated and complicated. I am determined to avoid a repetition of this situation in future years.”
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The minister, who conceded he does not currently have the £320m needed to pay the award in full, has committed to paying at least 10 months’ worth of back pay in March 2025 with a further pledge to secure the additional money needed to bridge the gap to make the full award.
He said the payment has been split into two tranches “due to ongoing pressures on my department’s budget”.
It’s understood the final instalment could come from departmental savings made elsewhere and potentially from the New Year monitoring round.
Unison’s Ann Speed described it as a “good” move and said the offer fulfilled the mandates of the unions by ensuring pay parity with colleagues elsewhere in the UK.
“Health unions will remain engaged and focused early in the New Year on full delivery of the minister’s commitments,” she added.
She said she thought “the minister has stepped forward now with something which I think all unions can live with”.
Mr Nesbitt said: “I believe a pay settlement is good news for health staff, good news for patients and good news for all those who care about our health service.
“Winter pressures are escalating once again and I owed it to staff to do all in my power to get a decent deal over the line.”
Separately, the review body for pay for doctors and dentists in the UK has recommended a 6% increase.
It is understood Mr Nesbitt is still waiting for an official response from the relevant professional bodies about his pay plan.