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Health staff owed £100m by bosses Health staff owed £100m by bosses
(about 2 hours later)
Health trusts in Northern Ireland owe staff nearly £100m because a three-year-old pay deal has not been fully implemented, the BBC has learned.Health trusts in Northern Ireland owe staff nearly £100m because a three-year-old pay deal has not been fully implemented, the BBC has learned.
The agreement introduced new pay and conditions for all bands of health sector staff - except doctors and senior managers.The agreement introduced new pay and conditions for all bands of health sector staff - except doctors and senior managers.
The agreement, called Agenda for Change, was introduced in October 2004.The agreement, called Agenda for Change, was introduced in October 2004.
But although most bands have now agreed a new "matched" salary band, many have still not received back-dated pay.But although most bands have now agreed a new "matched" salary band, many have still not received back-dated pay.
Everyone from nurses to cleaners and home helps had their jobs evaluated. The idea was to reward equal work with equal pay.Everyone from nurses to cleaners and home helps had their jobs evaluated. The idea was to reward equal work with equal pay.
Under the Freedom of Information Act the BBC learned that in April, the amount still owed by trusts to staff here amounted to £97m.Under the Freedom of Information Act the BBC learned that in April, the amount still owed by trusts to staff here amounted to £97m.
Lily Kerr of the trade union Unison said getting agreement on the new pay structures had been tortuous.Lily Kerr of the trade union Unison said getting agreement on the new pay structures had been tortuous.
"We met with the minister (Michael McGimpsey) last week on all of this and the minister agreed with us that people need to see the money in their pay packets," she says."We met with the minister (Michael McGimpsey) last week on all of this and the minister agreed with us that people need to see the money in their pay packets," she says.
Proportionately, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Trust owes most to staff.Proportionately, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Trust owes most to staff.
That's because ambulance crews never used to be paid enhanced rates for doing over-time or for working unsocial hours.That's because ambulance crews never used to be paid enhanced rates for doing over-time or for working unsocial hours.
Under the new agreement, many will now get a 25% pay rise.Under the new agreement, many will now get a 25% pay rise.
The lengthy delay in implementing the new agreement in full raises the question of whether workers would be entitled to interest on their back-dated pay.The lengthy delay in implementing the new agreement in full raises the question of whether workers would be entitled to interest on their back-dated pay.
Roisin O'Hara is the Director of Human Resources at the Northern Ireland Ambulance Trust. She hopes such claims can be resolved.Roisin O'Hara is the Director of Human Resources at the Northern Ireland Ambulance Trust. She hopes such claims can be resolved.
"We will be paying the back-pay in terms of the departmental guidelines and our finance colleagues are looking at what the present day value of that would be and hopefully they'll get to some agreement on how to actually factor that," she said."We will be paying the back-pay in terms of the departmental guidelines and our finance colleagues are looking at what the present day value of that would be and hopefully they'll get to some agreement on how to actually factor that," she said.