UNISON health workers take second week of industrial action

UNISON health members including nurses, cleaners, porters, midwives, occupational therapists, paramedics, scientists, radiographers, admin, catering and security staff will stage a four-hour stoppage on Monday 24 November between 7am and 11am in England. This will be followed by six days of action short of strike action when workers will work to rule.

This time, health workers from ten other health unions are joining UNISON workers for the industrial action. 

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “The fact almost all health unions are taking part in the industrial action should ring alarm bells in Whitehall.

“The anger is spreading and so is the public support for health workers’ cause.  The strength of feeling is far from fading and the dispute far from going away.

“All the Government has done so far is threaten workers with job cuts. 

“If the Secretary of State seriously thinks staff are the NHS’ best asset then he needs to treat them fairly. We are only asking for decent pay for the hard working people the Government say they care so much about.

“There will be plenty of opportunities for Jeremy Hunt to go in trusts around the country to meet with staff who will be working to rule, taking away the goodwill the NHS relies on so much. 

“It’s ludicrous that the Government is keeping up the pretence that all staff are getting a 1% pay rise.
 
“And it doesn’t matter how often they say it; it’s simply not true.
 
“The fact is the independent NHS Pay Review Body recommended a 1% pay rise
for all but this was rejected by the Government and now 60% won’t even be getting a 1% pay rise.
 
“The PRB have kept the industrial peace for the past 25 years. The Government should pay up and stop playing games.”
 
“NHS workers in Scotland and Wales will all be getting a 1% pay rise and the Living Wage. So why is the Secretary of State so determined to penalise workers in England?

“The Government and NHS Employers need to engage in meaningful talks about how to resolve this dispute. We are prepared to keep up the pressure through the Winter and up until the General Election.”

Ends
 

UNISON

Royal College of Midwives (RCM)

Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT)

Society of Radiographers (SoR)

British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT)

GMB

Unite the union

Managers in Partnership (MiP)

Prison Officers Association (POA)

Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association* (HCSA)

British Dietetic Association * (BDA)

HCSA and BDA will stage a week of action short of strike action between Tuesday 25 and Sunday 30 November 2014.
SoR will stage a four-hour stoppage between 8am and 12 noon on Monday 24 november 2014.

The new unions taking part I the second set of joint industrial action are: the BDA, POA and SoR.