22.10.14
Thousands of NHS staff in Wales vote to strike
NHS staff in Wales have voted to take strike action in the latest round of the fight between government and unions over health workers’ pay.
Members of Unison – nurses, occupational therapists, porters, paramedics, medical secretaries, cooks and healthcare assistants – were among those balloted in response to the decision by the Welsh health minister to ignore the NHS Pay Review recommendations for a 1% pay rise.
Instead, a one-off non-consolidated payment of £160 was offered to all staff. However because the award is non-consolidated it will not count towards pension entitlements or shift pay and will not occur in future years.
Unison said that 77% of the 5,715 who voted were willing to strike, while 90% are willing to take part in action short of a strike.
The Welsh government said it is disappointed with the ballot result as pay discussions were ongoing.
Unison regional secretary in Wales, Margaret Thomas, said: "Our members working in the Welsh NHS have sent a clear message that they are worth more than a miserly £160.
"Health workers have seen their pay drop by as much as 10% since 2010, and yet these same workers subsidise health services every week by working thousands of hours of unpaid overtime.
“Of course we want to continue to negotiate with the Welsh government to come to a decent and fair pay deal for our members.
“But NHS workers in Wales have spoken loud and clear that they are not prepared to continue to plug the financial gap in the Welsh NHS through pay restraint.”
She added that Unison’s health committee will now consider what action should be taken and how any potential action in Wales can be coordinated with further action taken in England.
A Welsh government spokesperson said: "The reality is that by 2015-16 the Welsh government's budget will be 10% lower in real terms than it was in 2010-11 - a reduction which equates to £1.5bn less.
"With pay accounting for more than 60% of the NHS budget we have no choice but to consider some form of pay restraint to maintain jobs and frontline services."
(Image: NHS health workers protest outside the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital as part of the 13 October strike c. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]