UNISON CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF THE GOOD JOBS BILL TO ADDRESS JOB INSECURITY IN THE COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY SECTOR

UNISON is issuing a stark warning to the Northern Ireland Executive, stating that the community and voluntary sector is at breaking point due to a persistent lack of sustainable core funding. UNISON is calling for urgent, long-term funding models and the immediate implementation of the stalled Good Jobs Bill to protect essential frontline services and improve the terms and conditions of its dedicated workforce.

The community and voluntary sector deliver crucial services across health, social care, and youth support that vulnerable people rely on daily, however, short-term, unstable funding cycles have left organisations unable to plan for the future, leading to widespread job insecurity and a severe recruitment crisis.

Speaking today, Conor McCarthy, UNISON Regional Organiser, stated;

"The community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland are the backbone of our communities, yet it is being starved of the resources it needs to survive. For too long, workers in this sector have been treated as second-class workers, facing low pay, insecure hours, and inferior terms and conditions compared to their public sector counterparts.

"We cannot continue to deliver first-rate public services on third-rate funding. The Northern Ireland Executive must step up and provide stable, multi-year funding frameworks. This isn't just about balancing budgets; it's about preserving the dignity of the staff and ensuring the survival of the services that many families and communities depend on."

Conor McCarthy added;

"The delay in progressing the Good Jobs Bill is a serious disservice to working people across Northern Ireland. If the Executive wants an economy that is productive and fair, it must lift the baseline for workers in this sector.

"We need better terms and conditions, sector-wide pay structures, and pension security as well as employers recognising trade unions. Implementing the Good Jobs Bill is the first step toward rectifying decades of systemic low pay in the voluntary sector. UNISON will continue to fight until these workers receive the respect, security, and pay they rightfully deserve.

"With sector leaders gathering this week, we strongly hope the serious issues raised by UNISON will be a central topic for discussion at the NICVA Summit being held in Belfast on the 10th of June. Employers and statutory funders must use this platform to confront the crisis head-on."