- ITV Report
Warning over local NHS pay deal
Nurses, scientists, therapists - health workers from across the NHS met in Bristol last night (Weds) to discuss their response to plans by health bosses to ignore national agreements and impose their own local deals.
20 hospitals and health trusts have signed up to a body called the South West Pay, Terms and Conditions Consortium.
Documents released earlier this summer revealled they are looking at series of cost cutting measures including imposing their own pay deal, increasing workers hours, reducing annual leave and sickness entitlement and introducing performance related pay.
Union members say if the changes go ahead it will financially cripple them and impact on patient care.
Unions say they will fight the plans.
At last night's meeting Unite's Head of Health Rachel Maskell told union members industrial action was an option:
The Consortium says it's yet to draw up any firm plans:
Watch the full report by our Health Correspondent Rebecca Broxton here:
Chris Bown who's chairing the South West Pay, Terms and Conditions Consortium which has sparked this row, spoke to Ian Axton on The West Country Tonight this evening: