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Unison, the largest healthcare workers' union, said the announcement on funding was a step forward but they would be seeking a further meeting with Department of Health officials to clarify details. In a statement on Thursday, Nesbitt said the funding will "deliver pay parity for health service staff, which was our original intention and what unions and professional bodies have been asking for and is their right". "This would restore pay parity with the percentage uplifts as recommended by pay review bodies being back dated in full to 1 April 2025. I would expect our HSC workforce to receive their uplift and back pay in their February 2026 pay packets," he said. "In addition, and to ensure that issue of late payment of pay awards will never happen again, I can confirm that as Health Minister I am committed to ensuring future pay awards are prioritised in my budget allocation at the start of the financial year and adjusted as necessary to ensure parity."
