Six months into the 2026/27 financial year, the Northern Ireland Executive still has no agreed budget, putting pressure on health and social care services, staff, patients and communities.
The CSP is now opening an indicative ballot of Health and Social Care (HSC) members in Northern Ireland to ask if members are prepared to take action over the issue.
Voting yes at this stage does not commit you to taking industrial action, but it allows the CSP to keep pressure on the Northern Ireland Executive and consider next steps.
The member-led pay sub-group recommends that members vote yes.
HSC staff in Northern Ireland are still waiting for the 3.3 per cent Agenda for Change pay award for 2026/27, which colleagues elsewhere in the UK have already received.
The indicative ballot will be open from 14 October until 6tNovember. HSC members in Northern Ireland should receive an email from the CSP today.
Claire Ronald, CSP senior negotiating officer for Northern Ireland, said: ‘Our members have waited patiently for the Executive to resolve the budget impasse, but there is still no solution in sight.
'The Executive says it is committed to pay parity with England but yet again we are going to have to ask staff to fight to receive what they have been promised.
It is critical that HSC members in Northern Ireland have their say in this indicative ballot to decide next steps.
HSC members in Northern Ireland should check that your membership details are up to date so that you can receive any ballot information.
And ask your colleagues if they have voted and encourage them to do so.
Please e-mail payni@csp.org.uk if you have any questions.
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