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Unite plans industrial action over NHS pay deal

Unite is planning a day of action against the three-year NHS pay deal.

Union members will take part in work-to-rule action on 3 December and have threatened possible strike action in January if no concessions are made.

Unite said the current offer of 8 per cent over three years was "derisory". The deal includes an increase of 2.75 per cent from April followed by 2.4 per cent in 2009-10 and 2.25 per cent in 2010-11.

Joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: "The government's strategy on the economy doesn't fit with its strategy on public sector pay.

"Our members voted to take industrial action for the first time and the government should take very serious notice."

The action will include a ban on "non-essential" paperwork, e-mail exchanges, attending meetings and telephone calls.

Unite national health officer David Fleming said there should be a full review of the government's public sector pay strategy.

He said: "We will clearly communicate to all our members what the day of action will mean; however, the welfare of clients and patients will be paramount and emergency cover maintained.

"We have a democratic mandate for this action and ministers should hear that our members are very angry at the continued below-inflation pay awards, in effect, pay cuts, and the undermining of the pay review body."


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Reader Response

Added: Monday, 17 November 2008 15:46 GMT
Anonymous, Hornchurch, United Kingdom

Whilst more than unhappy with last years pay rise as it was well below the rate of inflation.... Can't help thinking that we should be thankful at the moment. There will be people coming up to christmas with no job or if they have one, they will probably be getting no inflationary rises for a while. We cannot think that the NHS will go unaffected by large job losses in the private sector. A reduction in tax / ni receipts will mean less money next year for the NHS. A strike by NHS Unite union members will be damaging in the public eye and I can only imagine the press response.

I also would like to question Unite in regards to getting people to vote on this issue? I got a phone message / text message and also correspondance through the post to vote for strike action. I would like to know how much money was spent trying to get members to vote for strike action? I certainly won't be taking strike action and I hope everyone else will think long and hard before they do!


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