HSE: Unite health workers say ‘backdoor hiring freeze’ impacting patient services

Posted on October 3, 2024 by unitetheunion

Lunchtime protests set for next week as unions prepare to ballot for action

Unite, which represents a range of grades across the Health Services Executive (HSE) said today (Thursday) that what it termed the HSE’s ‘backdoor hiring freeze’ is impacting on patient services and causing staff burnout.

The union was commenting ahead of lunchtime protests scheduled for next week.

In conjunction with other unions in the health sector, Unite will also be balloting for industrial action.

After the HSE claimed that it had lifted its recruitment ban, it has emerged that vacancies are being benchmarked against the 2024 headcount, with the result that any vacancies unfilled in 2023 have effectively been lost to the health service.

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Waterford City and Co Council: Stoppage by members at Dunmore Depot deferred pending engagement with management

Posted on October 1, 2024 by unitetheunion

Dispute surrounds unilateral change to work practices

Unite, which represents members working for Waterford City and County Council, today (Tuesday) said that it has deferred a 24-hour work stoppage by Unite members at Dunmore Depot in Waterford, which had been scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), as a gesture of good faith ahead of local engagement with management next week.

Unite had served notice of industrial action after exhausting all other avenues in an attempt to resolve a dispute surrounding the decision earlier this year by Waterford City and County Council to unilaterally impose changes to agreed work practices, involving an effective cut to pay, on union members involved in the maintenance of chlorine dosing and sanitary facilities.

Unite is demanding that our members be reinstated to their established duties, in accordance with their longstanding terms and conditions of employment, and that they be reimbursed for financial losses incurred due to the Council’s unilateral actions.

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Budget 2025: Workers failed by short-term giveaways

Posted on October 1, 2024 by unitetheunion

Budget framed ‘with eye to the election rather than eye to the future’

Responding to Budget 2025, Unite, which represents workers throughout the economy, warned that today’s package of election giveaways will not lay the foundations for sustainable wage-led growth.

While any measures to alleviate immediate cost-of-living pressures will be welcomed, Unite said that, by focusing on short-term subsidies rather than long-term investment in the public provision of services, and on cutting inheritance tax rather than taxing wealth, the coalition has missed an opportunity to transform the economy.

The union also criticised the decision to again subsidise house purchases and rents – which could fuel further price rises – rather than implementing an ambitious publicly-delivered housing programme.

Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

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Hospitality workers in Northern Ireland denied fair tips rights provided in England, Scotland and Wales

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Unite demands Stormont legislate for “fair tips” for Northern Ireland hospitality workers

From tomorrow workers in the hospitality sector in Great Britain will have legal protections to receive 100 per cent of tips paid by customers in restaurants, cafes, hotels or other service industries. The same rights will however not extend to Northern Ireland – meaning workers here are to be denied rights provided elsewhere in the UK.

The new legislation is the direct result of a successful campaign waged by hospitality workers in Unite. The legislation provides workers with a legal entitlement to 100 per cent of all tips received, without deductions or delays, on a monthly basis. 

Although the new legislation will apply throughout the UK, no legislation has been introduced by the Stormont Executive meaning hospitality employees here will be denied the same protections. 

Unite the union general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is completely unacceptable that fair tips laws which Unite has fought to win since 2007 have been introduced by Westminster but not by the Stormont executive. 

“Hospitality workers in Northern Ireland should have the same rights and entitlement to receive fair tips as do their colleagues in Great Britain. There can be no excuse for the failure to provide workers in Northern Ireland with the same rights.”

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Seagate engineering specialists vote for representation by Unite

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Unite the union NI

Second historic vote by workers for union recognition at Springtown-based hard-drive manufacturer

Around 270 workers employed as engineering specialists by Seagate, at Springtown in Northern Ireland have voted overwhelmingly for collective representation by Unite.

The vote is the second by a large group of workers at the Springtown-based hard drive manufacturer. Last year, in what was a groundbreaking success for a union in the sector, Unite secured collective bargaining rights for 550 manufacturing specialists.

Engineering specialists play a vital role in the company, maintaining processes, buildings and equipment at the factory.

The vote opens the door to a formal recognition agreement being concluded quickly as management at the factory have already committed that if workers vote for collective bargaining they will engage with the union. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is another big win for the workers at Seagate. There is a growing determination among workers to have a strong collective voice in Unite.

“Congratulations to all those involved in securing this success. I wish them well in the challenges ahead in securing real improvements to jobs, pay and conditions for those employed at the factory.”

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