More industrial action is due to cause disruption across Northern Ireland in February as staff working in education and health are among those going on strike this month.
Hundreds of thousands of workers have been on strike over recent weeks with many of those taking part seeking more pay to keep up with rising prices amid the cost of living crisis.
The ongoing walkouts come amid bitter disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.
Read more: NIFRS Chief Fire Officer calls for 'special arrangements' if strike goes ahead
Health
Last month more than 25,000 healthcare staff in Northern Ireland took part in one-day strike action as part of a pay dispute.
Paramedics were among the workers with the trade unions Nipsa, Unison and Unite taking part at picket lines.
The 24-hour stoppage was the latest full day of action taken by health sector unions as they press for safe staffing, better pay and improved mileage allowances.
NIPSA, UNISON, Unite and GMB members staged the action at 38 locations across the five Health and Social Care Trusts.
It comes as Northern Ireland’s health service has faced sustained pressure in recent months, with people being advised on several occasions of long waits at emergency departments due to capacity issues.
NIPSA health and social care staff have been on a continuous work to rule since 5 December last year following a massive 92.6% vote by members to go on strike. They last took to the picket lines on December 12.
Nurses across the UK made history in November, voting in favour of strike action for the first time in the Royal College of Nursing’s 106 year history.
The December and January walkouts affected hospitals across the country, and now further strikes are set to take place in England in the dispute over pay and patient safety.
The RCN has said that in real terms, NHS nurses have suffered a pay cut of 20 percent since 2010. The union is campaigning for a five percent pay rise above inflation to help nurses overcome real-terms pay cuts, to support nursing staff through the cost of living crisis, and recognise their critical skills.
The RCN has yet to confirm dates for further planned strikes in Northern Ireland.
Education
Most Northern Ireland teachers are to go on strike for the first time in five years following the half-term break in a dispute over pay.
The half-day strike action by the three main teaching unions here - the UTU, INTO and NASUWT - will take place next month.
Teachers will withdraw their labour from schools for 12 hours on Tuesday, February 21, before returning to their normal afternoon duties over the failure to offer "a fair and decent" pay award.
Many schools are expected to close until midday on the day as most teachers in Northern Ireland are represented by the three unions.
School leaders recently wrote to the Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris expressing "significant concerns about the impact of the current crisis in education funding".
The Education Authority (EA) has also said it's not possible to deliver a £110 million saving plan proposed by Mr Heaton-Harris before the end of March.
Meanwhile, students attending Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University are also facing disruption over the coming weeks as some staff take part in 18 days of strike action.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will take to the picket lines on various dates during February and March in a dispute over pay, working conditions and pensions.
The union, which represents lecturers and support staff, said over 70,000 staff at 150 universities across the UK will take "unprecedented strike action" over 18 days having previously held three days of action last November.
The strike began on Wednesday, February 1, with further walkouts planned for Thursday, February 9 and 10.
UCU members at both Queen's and Ulster University are also expected to walk out on February 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27 and 28.
Further action is planned on Wednesday, March 1 and 2, followed by March 16 ,17, 20, 21 and 22.
Elsewhere firefighters across NI have voted to strike, but no dates have been announced. If the industrial action goes ahead, it would be the first UK-wide fire strike over pay since 2003. The Fire Brigades Union says it wants a "a credible offer" after members rejected a 5% pay offer but the government says a strike would be "disappointing and concerning".
And Royal Mail workers are to stage a fresh strike in the long-running dispute over pay and conditions. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will walk out on February 16, threatening more disruption to mail deliveries.
The strike was announced despite talks last month at the conciliation service Acas aimed at breaking the deadlocked row. A series of strikes were held last year, including in the weeks running up to Christmas.
Here are the remaining strikes due to take place across NI in February 2023.
Thursday, February 9
- University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Friday, February 10
University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Tuesday, February 14
- University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Wednesday, February 15
University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Thursday, February 16
- Unite ambulance staff will strike in Northern Ireland.
- University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Royal Mail members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will walk out in the long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
Friday, February 17
- Ambulance workers in Northern Ireland
Tuesday, February 21
- University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Half-day strike action by NI's three main teaching unions - the UTU, INTO and NASUWT - over the failure to offer "a fair and decent" pay award.
Wednesday, February 22
- University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Thursday, February 23
- Unite ambulance staff will strike in Northern Ireland.
- University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Friday, February 24
Unite ambulance staff will strike in Northern Ireland
Monday, February 27
University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
Tuesday, February 28
- University staff to strike. More than 70,000 staff at 150 universities are due to take strike action by the University and College Union (UCU).
READ NEXT:
Thousands of health workers take part in strike action across NI
- NI teachers to stage half-day walk out next month in dispute over pay
NI university students face more disruption as staff set to strike
NI care workers stage protests calling for improved mileage rates
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
