NHS workers in England to stage strike on October 13th

Health workers in England are scheduled to stage a four-hour walk-out on October 13 due to concerns over their rate of pay.

16:42 24 September 2014

After the Department of Health has said that NHS couldn’t afford to agree with the union’s demands, health workers in England have scheduled a four-hour strike that will take place on October 13.

 

More than two-thirds of Unison members voted to go on strike and said they are prepared to take action. 

 

The Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "NHS members don't take action often or lightly.

 

"For many of our members this will be the first time they walk out as the last action over pay was 32 years ago.

 

"The NHS runs on the goodwill of its workers, but this government has shown utter contempt for them.

 

"We are working with NHS employers to minimise the impact on patients."

 

A spokesman for the Department of Health said the NHS could not afford a general pay rise on top of incremental increases.

 

"We are disappointed that Unison is planning industrial action and has rejected our proposals to give NHS staff at least 1% additional pay this year and at least a further 1% next year," he said.

 

"NHS staff are our greatest asset and we know they are working extremely hard.

 

"This is why despite tough financial times, we've protected the NHS budget and now have 13,500 more clinical staff than in 2010.

 

"We want to protect these increases and cannot afford incremental pay increases - which disproportionately reward the highest earners - on top of a general pay rise without risking frontline NHS jobs."