Health: pay talks set to resume as strike ballot plans continue
The RCN says nurses are becoming "increasingly frustrated"
Discussions are expected to resume today (Monday) as the possibility of a health workers' strike across Northern Ireland looms large.
The Royal College of Nursing warned that it had "no choice but to continue preparations to ballot members for strike action in the coming weeks."
Meanwhile, Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, confirmed talks would continue.
“I very much value the ongoing constructive engagement with the health unions, particularly in terms of identifying and exploring any potential options and common ground, as we seek to work through these difficult issues together," he said.
In an exclusive interview with Downtown Radio & Cool FM recently, Mr Nesbitt said he was "highly optimistic" health workers’ pay would be resolved.
Nurses' leaders said they were becoming "increasingly frustrated" that nursing staff "continue to be denied the 3.6% pay award already given to colleagues in other parts of the UK."
Professor Rita Devlin, Executive Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland said:
“Despite recent negotiations on pay, there is still no settlement in sight. As a result, the RCN in Northern Ireland has no choice but to continue preparations to ballot members for strike action in the coming weeks.
“This situation is beyond disappointing but going out of pay parity is not an option we’re willing to accept. We remain committed to ongoing negotiations with the Department of Health and the Executive to find a way forward, but it’s clear that our members are running out of patience as this stalemate continues.”
Mr Nesbitt added: “My Department continues to work in good faith with health unions and professional bodies.
"Talks are continuing as we acknowledge and respond to their concerns within the regrettable financial constraints we face."