02/06/2026
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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.
