Unison Foyle Health Branch

09/06/2026

UNISON's Foyle Health Branch send our thoughts to the victim of the attack in North Belfast last night and we wish him a full recovery. This attack was the action of one person and it does not represent an entire community.

We are also very aware of the increased racism and hate crime our Black and Migrant members have experienced over recent years and the fear our Black and Migrant communities are living in. This fear has no doubt increased following the attack last night and the escalation in anti-migrant sentiment following this.

We want to reiterate that last night's attack was the actions of one individual. We have a proud Black and Migrant membership, of workers who have been invited here to help with public sector staffing crises in areas such as social care and nursing. We ask our members to look out for one another, make sure your co-workers get home safely and challenge racism when you see it.

UNISON have a long and proud tradition of standing up for equality and human rights and against prejudice, bigotry and discrimination. Look after one another. We are much stronger united in diversity.

We ask for people to let the PSNI be allowed to do their job and conduct their investigation, holding the person accountable through the legal system.

09/06/2026

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

Healthcare student or practice assessor or educator?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to its education standards for nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes.

This includes proposals to reduce the minimum number of nursing programme hours from 4,600 to 3,600.

We want to hear what you think about the NMC's proposals and your broader experiences of practice learning.

Take our survey before 12 June

🔗research.unison.org.uk/s3/88db881193b3

07/06/2026

The Good Jobs Bill is being blocked at the NI Executive. If it is not released by the Executive next week there may be insufficient time for the Bill to complete the legislative process before the current Assembly term ends.

02/06/2026

𝗛𝗦𝗖 𝗣𝗔𝗬 - 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗛𝗦𝗖 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗

Health Trade Unions have collectively raised our growing frustration at the continuing failure to implement recommendations on 2026/27 pay for the Health and Social Care (HSC) workforce, linked to the ongoing absence of an agreed Executive budget.

In February, the Health Minister stated that it is his desire to proceed with a headline pay uplift of 3.3% recommended by the Pay Review Body (PRB) for Agenda for Change (AfC) staff. However, the Minister has stated that he can only deliver on this when clear about his budget.

The 3.3% pay uplift recommended by the PRB has now been implemented in England from April. But in the absence of the Executive agreeing its budget, there is no certainty as to when this uplift will be in place for the AfC workforce in Northern Ireland.

Without the implementation of this 3.3%, the link to pay parity with the NHS in England has once again been broken and this leaves the workforce fearing they will be left behind on pay. Workers in Northern Ireland cannot continue to face unacceptable delays in receiving pay uplifts that are due.

Pay parity with their colleagues is the absolute minimum that the HSC workforce rightly expects to receive. Whilst as Trade Unions we are clear that the PRB recommendations are not enough and we are engaging in wider discussions on pay reform, reinstatement of pay parity for health workers in Northern Ireland by implementation of the 3.3% is essential. Continuing inaction on pay undermines confidence that the HSC workforce will be properly recognised and valued for the essential services they provide.

Health Trade Unions are calling on the Executive to ensure the necessary funding for pay is made available as swiftly as possible. The Executive must recognise that continued inaction damages the morale of the workforce and is worsening industrial relations.

01/06/2026