HSE staff vote for strike action over pay offer

Safety inspectors have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a pay dispute with the HSE.

The inspectors, members of the professionals' union Prospect, voted by more than two to one to take a day's strike action followed by a work to rule in response to a pay offer that would cut the pay of 40% of staff.

Richard Hardy, Prospect negotiations officer, said: "Although HSE say their offer is worth 3.7%, this is a 'whole cost' figure. Many staff will receive substantially less - including the most experienced, who will get only 0.5% for each of the next three years. This is below inflation and clearly unacceptable."

Prospect points out that some HSE board members received salary increases of nearly £20,000 this year.

Hardy added: "This is not just about levels of pay but about HSE's ability to maintain an experienced and committed workforce in order to deliver safe workplaces for all."

The union has instigated talks with the conciliation service ACAS, but the HSE board had refused to budge as we went to press.