Articles | NHS workers vote to strike

NHS workers vote to strike

Published: Wednesday, 12 November 2008, 4:59PM

Thousands of NHS workers have voted to strike in protest over a "derisory" pay deal, the Unite union has announced.

The union balloted 77,000 mental health nurses, paramedics and ambulance staff, with three quarters voting in favour of industrial action and just over half backing walkouts.

Unite said action would start before Christmas although officials would not decide until later this week what form the action will take.

They said the welfare of patients would be "paramount" during the industrial action, but added that NHS workers were angry at a three-year deal worth around 8 per cent, which was imposed by the Government earlier this year.

Joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: "The Government's stated aim of controlling inflation with public sector pay restraint was just wrong before. After the economic meltdown, it is completely ludicrous.

"Pay cuts will only make recession longer and deeper. It's time for the Government to reconsider its policy on NHS pay."

Unite's national officer for health, David Fleming, added: "The stand that our members have taken against the derisory three-year pay deal imposed by ministers has been vindicated.

"Our members were appalled and angry at the three-year pay deal imposed by the Government in the spring. Inflation has now broken through the 5 per cent barrier and their household bills are increasing on an almost daily basis.

"Whatever action our members take, emergency cover will be maintained at all times and the welfare of patients and clients will remain paramount."