Thousands of Northern Irish health workers have voted to take strike action over pay and staffing.
More than 97% of Unison members working in the health service have voted to take strike action and action short of strike over concerns regarding pay during the cost of living crisis.
The union has said it will be looking to take action in early December following the vote.
Over 92% of Nipsa health workers have also voted to take strike action which is also due to take place in early December.
Anne Speed, Head of Bargaining and Representation at Unison, said: "Of the thousands who voted over the last 3 weeks more than 97% have voted to take strike action and action short of strike. Our Health Industrial Action Committee have met and are making plans to implement this mandate from early December
"Our politicians and employers should be concerned with putting NHS pay right now.
"Staff are exiting the service and without urgent movement on pay, many more will follow suit.
"Our health services are in a dire state, with too few staff to deliver safe patient care. That’s why hundreds of thousands of NHS employees have either voted to strike over pay and staffing .
“There can be no ignoring the fact that health services across the UK are on the verge of a damaging dispute. The Westminster government’s focus should be on how to keep experienced staff in their jobs. They can do this with a wage rise that better reflects the harsh economic reality for working people. Our politicians in Northern Ireland should be ensuring that funding and resources are delivered. The Executive should be restored and the mechanisms in place to make this happen.
"Workers do not easily take to the picket lines but when all other avenues are shut down they will turn to their trade unions to stand up with them and for them.
"The cost of living crisis is imposing additional burdens on an overstretched and undervalued workforce. Employers must not stay silent and all those with influence and leverage must act together to ensure that health workers in Northern Ireland do not remain left behind."
Nipsa Deputy General Secretary Padraig Mullholland said: “The Industrial Action in December will be hard-hitting but our members have no choice but to defend our National Health Service, for too long members have held together a system that is in crisis so that our communities get a decent service.”
Nipsa Assistant Secretary Terry Thomas stated: “Fair Pay, Safe staffing and Fair Travel Rates are at the heart of our dispute, our members have had enough and have made it clear that action is now necessary to redress the balance caused by years of underfunding and under inflation Pay cuts.”
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