Strike action in Northern Ireland

Around 1,400 social workers across 11 community health trusts in
Northern Ireland went on strike for two days last week in protest
over pay and conditions.

Public service union Nipsa took the action, which also involved
adhering to a strict 37-hour week, in support of a pay and grading
claim designed to bring social workers’ pay in line with their
health service colleagues, who they regularly work with in
multi-disciplinary settings.

Nipsa deputy general secretary Brian Campfield said: “Nipsa
membersÉ are determined to secure a fair rate of pay for a
very difficult and pressurised job.” He said it was only when the
union decided to ballot its members on industrial action that the
employers entered into serious negotiations.