The Society of Radiographers is consulting members on industrial action in Northern Ireland over the lack of a pay award for 2026-27.
The consultative ballot stems from the failure to honour, or provide a timeframe for, introducing the 3.3 per cent increase recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body for all Health and Social Care staff in Northern Ireland for 2026-27.
The pay award for NHS staff in Northern Ireland should have been made in April 2026, in line with pay changes for NHS staff in England and Wales. This follows the recommended 3.6 per cent pay award for all Health and Social Care staff in Northern Ireland for 2025/26, which was due to be introduced in April 2025, but was not paid until late March 2026.
SoR Northern Ireland national officer, Cora Regan, said: “I met with the Northern Ireland health minister, Robbie Butler, alongside other health union officials, on Wednesday (7 October) and although the minister committed to the pay award, he was not able to provide a date or a timeframe for it being made.
"The lack of an agreed budget in Northern Ireland means there is likely to be another long and unacceptable delay in our members receiving their pay award, which should have been paid in April this year and was received by NHS staff in England and Wales then.
“We are consulting with members to check the strength of feeling and inform the Society of Radiographers’ position on potentially taking forward a formal industrial action ballot. I encourage all of our members in Northern Ireland to respond to the consultation and make their voices heard.”
More than 900 SoR members in Northern Ireland are being consulted by ballot, which closes on 22 October 2026 at 3pm.