Northern Ireland health and social care staff are the UK's lowest paid and are striking for a new deal.
Midwives and maternity support workers will be taking to the picket lines later as part of strikes by health and social care staff.Northern Ireland health and social care staff remain the lowest paid in the UK.
Karen Murray, of the RCM in Northern Ireland, said that strike action had been paused "in good faith" six months ago, after the union was invited by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to discuss pay. "You will see a lot of frustration on the picket lines today, but you'll also see a lot of sorrow, genuine despair at where we find ourselves.
"It's as simple and as stark as that - and we're already seeing it happen. Politicians can stem that tide - and they need to do it now."Northern Ireland health and social care staff have yet to be offered a pay uplift for 2023-24 and received a below-inflation pay award for 2022-23.On Thursday, Conor McCarthy, from Unison, said the strike would have a big impact.
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