Health workers run out of patience with Stormont budget delay
The practical impact of Northern Ireland's budget delay seemed relatively muted until earlier this week when hospital doctors announced two strikes.
Health workers in Northern Ireland are growing frustrated with the prolonged budget delay. With seven months having passed without a budget, the situation has been largely managed through emergency procedures, but consequences are now emerging. Hospital doctors have announced two strikes next month due to the lack of a pay uplift they were promised.
The independent body recommended a 3.5% pay increase, which was accepted by the health minister in the rest of the UK, but not in Northern Ireland. The doctors' union, the British Medical Association (BMA), was told by the health minister that there will be no pay rise before Christmas, if at all. Similarly, the Royal College of Nursing has opened a ballot for industrial action due to similar pay issues.
Finance Minister John O Dowd laid out the budget shortfall, stating that Stormont parties cannot produce a workable financial plan due to the devolution funding formula leaving them short. The UK government has offered an additional £1.5bn over the next three years, but the Stormont parties find this insufficient. Public sector pay alone is around £500m, and any settlement must include money for pay uplifts for various public-sector workers.
Stormont ministers have no clear deadline for reaching a deal, but the UK Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant suggested January as the absolute deadline, as the emergency funding will run out by then.
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