Health unions move to action over pay

Both the Unite general union and the UNISON public services union are moving closer to strike action in the NHS over pay. Between them, the two unions represent around 500,000 NHS personnel.

Delegates at UNISON’s health care conference on 15 April voted in favour of proceeding with an industrial action ballot, while Unite also announced that it would be consulting health service members on whether to ballot.

These moves come on the back of widespread anger within both unions at the decision by health secretary Jeremy Hunt to reject the recommendation of a 1% pay increase for all NHS workers made by the independent pay review body.

Instead, the government decided on a 1% non-consolidated increase only for those on the top of their incremental pay-band.

UNISON has called on all health unions to join together in a day of action on 5 June, involving workplace demonstrations, and in order to build support for strike action.

www.unison.org.uk/news/health-workers-vote-for-strike-ballot

www.unitetheunion.org/news/unite-confirms-that-it-will-be-consulting-nhs-members-on-possible-strike-action-over-insulting-pay-offer