Downe workers protest as pay freezes and glitches hit

Downe workers protest as pay freezes and glitches hit

11 June 2014

HEALTH service staff staged a protest outside the Downe Hospital last week to highlight concern about their latest pay freeze and the introduction of a new payroll system.

Front line workers say pay freezes are having a major impact, claiming real time salary levels have fallen between eight and 14 per cent over the past four years.

Several politicians who joined health staff last Thursday heard that over the past four years they have had a one per cent pay increase, yet their National Insurance and pension contributions have increased in some cases by almost 3.5 per cent.

Staff say on top of dramatic increases in the cost of food and fuel, many health care staff have less money to spend and are struggling to make ends meet.

The bulk of their concern centres around the introduction of a new payroll system which has caused “major problems” with many workers not receiving payments for work they have carried out at weekends and bank holidays. Staff say they have also not been paid for working unsocial and additional hours which has resulted in financial hardship, with underpayments not rectified for up to two months.

South Down MLA Chris Hazzard said the debacle in processing health workers’ pay which has left catering, portering, administration and other staff without full pay for successive months is “totally unacceptable.”

He added: “Health Minister Edwin Poots needs to act decisively to ensure staff are not left in this intolerable situation for another month. Nurses and other workers throughout the health service provide care to all who need it. They are the frontline of our health service and they should be supported.”

Councillors Colin McGrath and Naomi Bailie say the payroll issue must be addressed immediately.

Councillor McGrath said it’s “disgraceful” that people who work with the most vulnerable in society are not being paid a fair, decent wage on time.

“The fact that in the 21st century we have staff in our health service having to go to food banks and money lenders because they are not being paid on time for the work they do is a disgrace,” he added.

Praising nursing staff for the great service they provide, Councillor Bailie said the pressures nurses and other healthcare workers are under have been well documented.

“Staff have also had to deal with an increase in workloads without seeing an increase in pay for the valuable work they do,” she continued.

“I support health care staff in their demand for a fair wage for the service they provide. Staff having to take out alternative finance to pay for mortgages and day-to-day living costs and others forced to go down the route of pay day loans is simply unacceptable.”

Councillor Bailie added: “The new payroll system is clearly flawed and I would call on Minister Poots to act promptly to suspend its further roll out and ensure that appropriate amendments are made.”