BDA Trade Union consults members in Northern Ireland on new pay proposals.
The British Dietetic Association is today commencing a consultation exercise with members, following receipt of a letter from Robin Swann, Minister of Health, endorsing the discussions between Departmental officials and trade unions to resolve the current Agenda for Change industrial dispute.
As members will be aware, some trade unions had already taken industrial action and we were in the process of balloting members for action. There is no doubt the coordinated, united approach from all trade unions directly led to the agreement being reached.
The strength of feeling of members on this issue was clear, as was the public support for our arguments, especially around fair pay. This enabled us to ensure that the offer met the minimum requirement of pay parity with NHS members in England. The BDA firmly believe that NHS workers in Northern Ireland deserve this pay rise and the recognition that they are worth the same as NHS members in England.
The ful offer can be found in the attachment below:
BDA NI Pay Consultation 2020
Resolving the pay dispute will also, we believe, strengthen our collective hand and credibility with Ministers when discussions move onto safe staffing levels in the coming weeks. Members may be aware that the RCN had actually included safe staffing as a formal part of their dispute and the AHP’s also raised it in support of resolving the pay dispute. The BDA will be working with all of the Health unions to ensure members have the right resources to do your jobs safely and professionally.
The BDA recommends that members taking part in the consultation accept the offer. It believes that this offer meets its minimum demand for parity with England and was achieved through the collective strength of trade union members.
We will shortly be sending out further details about how the rise will be implemented, including how members can see the individual affect on them. We recommend that all members look at this calculator as well as the individual journeys section of the offer letter.
More detailed proposals for AHP safe staffing are being developed and further information will be provided to members as soon as possible.
This offer highlights the benefits of trade union membership. If any of your colleagues are not members of the BDA this is a perfect example that members can use to encourage them to join as our strength is in our numbers.
The ballot will close on 12 Feb 2020 to try and ensure that members can receive the back pay that they are now entitled to as soon as possible.
