Dates announced for Northern Ireland industrial action ballot

CSP Council is recommending members vote yes in support of strike action, and to an additional question which would give us a mandate to undertake industrial action short of a strike. 

This industrial ballot is the next step required to allow members to take legal strike action in pursuit of a fair pay award. Health and social care staff in Northern Ireland are yet to be offered a pay uplift for 2023/24 and have received no additional pay award for 2022/23 leaving them once again as the lowest paid across the UK.   

The ballot follows our consultation of HSCNI members, run in June 2023, where 93 per cent of participants said they were prepared to take industrial action.  However, this time, votes have to be made through a postal-only election. 

Claire Ronald, CSP senior negotiating officer for Northern Ireland explained:

In light of the strength of feelings of members, CSP Council decided we should proceed with a ballot.  To have a strong position to take forward, it is essential that as many members as possible vote, giving us a clear mandate for action.

Members should expect ballot papers to arrive in the week of 7 August.  Email instructions sent that week will advise members how to contact us about missing ballot papers, and other troubleshooting issues. 

Look out for your Golden Envelope, and return your voting paper without delay.