BELFAST. The Royal College of Nursing has opened a ballot for industrial action, including strikes, among nursing staff in Northern Ireland. Members have until 20 November to vote.
Why
- Nurses in England and Wales received a 3.3% rise in April 2026, but the 2026–27 award has not been paid in Northern Ireland.
- Stormont has not agreed a budget for the year, so public sector pay awards have not been signed off.
- The ballot asks about both action short of a strike and full strike action.
“Strike action is always a last resort,” said Rita Devlin, executive director of RCN Northern Ireland. She said staff are having to fight for an award that colleagues elsewhere in the UK received automatically.
The government’s position
Health Minister Robbie Butler says he understands nurses’ frustration. His department says the award should be paid and pay parity with England restored as soon as possible, and warns that further delay raises the risk of strikes this winter.
Across the UK
- England: the government has proposed only 2.4% for 2027–28, and the RCN calls it a betrayal.
- Scotland: a negotiated two-year deal pays 4.25% and then 3.75%.
- Northern Ireland: the 2026–27 award is still unpaid and a strike ballot is open.
Sources: ITV News UTV (14 October 2026); RCN; Nursing Times (19 October 2026).