Health workers to join teachers and university staff in epic day of strikes

It is taking place on Tuesday 21st February

Healthcare workers have been staging strikes over issues such as pay, pension, staff retention, and working conditions.
Author: Chloe GibsonPublished 16th Feb 2023
Last updated 16th Feb 2023

Northern Ireland's leading healthcare unions have rescheduled a planned day of industrial action to coincide with strikes by teachers.

Today's announcement from Unison and GMB said members will now walk out on 21st February, the same day teachers will hold a half-day strike and university staff are scheduled for another day on the picket lines

Healthcare workers have been staging strikes over issues such as pay, pension, staff retention, and working conditions.

Both unions have confirmed 12-hour pickets at health trust sites across Northern Ireland, running from 8am to 8pm.

Jim Donley the GMB regional organiser, said

“NHS staff worked tirelessly through the pandemic – always putting patient safety first."

“The least they deserve is decent pay to get through the worst cost of living crisis in decades."

“There is a recruitment crisis in the NHS, with vacancies all across hospitals in Northern Ireland."

“Without getting serious on pay, health care workers will continue to leave the service, and patients will continue to suffer. The Government needs to talk pay now.”

Schools, hospitals, and universities are set to be disrupted by the strike action on Tuesday next week