Government and NHS workers poised to clash over pay

NHS workers whom are members of trade union Unison have voted overwhelmingly for strike action, due to the Government’s decision not to deliver a pay rise as per the independent Pay Review Body’s recommendation.

Results of the ballot were 68 per cent in favour of taking part in a strike, with 88 per cent willing to take part in action short of strike action.

Announcing the result, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis commented: “This Government’s treatment of NHS workers has angered them and this anger has now turned into action. Refusing to pay them even a paltry 1 per cent shows what the Government really thinks about its health workers. Inflation has continued to rise since 2011 and the value of NHS pay has fallen by around 12 per cent.

He continues, “We know health workers don’t take strike action lightly or often. The last action over pay was 32 years ago. But we also know a demoralised and demotivated workforce isn’t good for patients.

“If we move into industrial action we will work with NHS employers to minimise the impact on patients. But it’s not too late for Jeremy Hunt to act to avoid this and we repeat our offer to the government to negotiate with us. To date the Secretary of State has refused to meet with health unions to negotiate pay.”

Unison, with 300,000 members who include healthcare assistants, nurses, occupational therapists, paramedics, porters, cooks and medical secretaries, is the first of ten unions to put this question to its members.