Ambulance dispute: Labour Court proposals offer pathway forward

Posted on June 5, 2026 by unitetheunion

Unite, which represents ambulance workers throughout Ireland, has said that proposals issued yesterday (Thursday) by the Labour Court offer a pathway towards resolving the long-running dispute which saw workers take industrial action last month.

The dispute had centred on the failure to fully implement the 2020 ‘Roles and Responsibilities Review’ which recommended enhanced pay scales to reflect the fact that the qualifications, clinical responsibilities and operational duties of ambulance personnel have expanded significantly in recent years.

The new Labour Court proposals recommend significant pay increases while largely protecting ambulance workers’ terms and conditions.

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Unite secures further recognition agreement at Seagate Technologies

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Unite the union NI

Negotiations have commenced on next year’s pay deal

Unite has concluded a third workforce recognition agreement with Seagate. The Derry/L’Derry based manufacturer is a global leader in mass data storage and employs approximately 1,400 workers in Northern Ireland.

The latest recognition deal covers the assistant’ group of the workforce – approximately 21 workers mostly in administration roles. In the last two years Unite has secured recognition deals covering manufacturing specialists and engineering specialists. The three recognition deals means that Unite has negotiation rights for almost all categories of non-management employees in the company. More than 700 workers are members of the union already and the numbers continue to expand.

General secretary Sharon Graham said, “This recognition deal completes the goal of fully organising Seagate. This is a cutting-edge manufacturer, and this outcome demonstrates the importance of trade union membership to workers across all sectors in the economy.

“Building strength in the workplace is key to deliver for members’ jobs, terms and conditions.” Continue reading →

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Ambulance dispute: Industrial action stood down following progress at Labour Court

Posted on May 22, 2026 by unitetheunion

Following significant progress in Labour Court discussions, the ongoing work-to-rule by Unite and Siptu members in the National Ambulance Service (NAS), and the 72-hour stoppage scheduled for next week, have been stood down to allow the Labour Court process to conclude.

The dispute centres on the ongoing failure to fully implement the recommendations of the McHugh/Crabtree report regarding pay and grading arrangements for frontline ambulance personnel. Those involved work as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and paramedic supervisors across the NAS.

Unite Regional Officer Eoin Drummey said:

“Our members have shown enormous unity, professionalism and determination throughout this dispute, and that collective strength has been central to bringing discussions to this stage.

“However, it is important to stress that the issues at the heart of this dispute have not disappeared, and the unions retain the right to reissue industrial action notice if a satisfactory resolution is not achieved.”

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Northern Ireland health department flip-flopping on childminding ratios risks child safety, Unite

Posted on May 20, 2026 by Unite the union NI

97 percent of registered child minders say change of date for new ratios will place more children in an unsafe, unregulated and illegal environments

After years of campaigning, Registered Child Minders (RCMs) in Unite have won an increase to childminding ratios but they are now calling on health minister Mike Nesbitt to intervene to ensure children are full protected during their introduction.

Earlier this month, the department announced the results of a consultation on new childminding ratios and that they would increase from 1 June. RCMs immediately started to take additional bookings from parents. However, following an unhelpful intervention by the Northern Ireland Childminders Association (NICMA), the department flip-flopped and changed the date for implementation to the 9 November meaning RCMs had to cancel child places. Continue reading →

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Ambulance dispute: Unite warns workers will return to picket lines in absence of meaningful progress

Posted on May 17, 2026 by unitetheunion

Unite, which represents members working for the National Ambulance Service (NAS), warned today (Sunday) that workers will return to the picket lines if meaningful progress is not made in Labour Court talks due to reconvene tomorrow.

Last week Unite and Siptu members working for the NAS engaged in a 24-hour stoppage as a result of management’s ongoing failure to implement the 2020 ‘Roles and Responsibilities Review’.

The qualifications, clinical responsibilities and operational duties of ambulance personnel have expanded significantly in recent years. Despite the fact that the ‘Roles and Responsibilities Review’ recommended enhanced pay scales to reflect the growing professionalisation of the service, those recommendations have not been implemented. In addition, a five per cent increase recommended under the Benchmarking II process has not been delivered.

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