NHS nurse members of union GMB in Northern Ireland yesterday voted to strike over pay alongside healthcare colleagues including ambulance workers, clerical staff and technicians.
GMB members voted to walk out by a margin of 86% with the union set to meet with members to discuss next steps and the possibility of industrial action before Christmas.
Jim Donley, GMB organiser, said: ‘This vote for strike action shows the NHS workforce across Northern Ireland are desperate.
‘They’ve faced years of real terms pay cuts, a deadly pandemic and now a crushing cost of living crisis. They’re being pushed to the limit…
‘The NHS in Northern Ireland is on life support – the Westminster Government needs to provide urgent extra funding or the service as we know it will cease to exist.’
Separately, the RCN is balloting nurses in Northern Ireland alongside colleagues across the UK. The RCN said there was strong support for strike action among members but it is still counting votes, with results expected today.
Nurses in Northern Ireland previously walked out over staffing and pay in late 2019 and early 2020, before voting to accept staffing and pay parity proposals in February 2020.
