Unite To Step Up NHS Pay Campaign, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 07 Jul 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Unite, the largest union in the UK, will be ratcheting up its campaign against plans to impose a 'derisory' three-year pay deal on NHS staff.

The two health sections of Unite - TGWU and Amicus - have set up a working group to discuss a programme for action, including a ballot for industrial action in the autumn.

Unite representatives, meeting this week, expressed their continued anger at the government's proposals for a 7.99% pay deal over the next three years - at a time of runaway food, petrol and utility price rises and more expensive mortgage payments.

Unite is already staging a national day of protest on Friday, 18 July - Cut my pay, no way - we are not going away! - with demonstrations across the country.

After 18 July, Unite will be taking action including further political steps and formalising its dispute with the health departments of the four countries of the UK.

Unite National Officer for Health, David Fleming said: 'We will be seeking further meetings with ministers outlining our continuing anger and will, failing progress, be seeking an Early Day Motion in the next session of parliament outlining our continued opposition.'

'Industrial action in the autumn is certainly an option that Unite will be consulting its membership over, as will further action and protests.'

Julie Evans, Chair of the Unite (Amicus) Health Sector National Committee said: 'Through our overwhelming ballot results to reject the derisory pay offer and pay band restructure, and through continued consultation and dialogue with all our professional and staff group members throughout the UK, our members continue to voice their anger and frustration that there has been a multi-year pay cut imposed on them which has been accepted by others.'

'As a campaigning union, we will be continuing our dispute and will sustain a campaign up to and including industrial action to protest over this current pay agreement.'

Frank Keogh, Chair of the Unite (TGWU) NHS Committee said: 'The combined health committees represent a large and diverse cross-section of NHS staff, and those staff are adamant that this awful deal is not in the interests of NHS staff.'

'Unite members have spoken loud and clear. Our day of protest on 18 July is just the start of our campaign. We will continue to work together on a range of initiatives that will ensure the voice of Unite in the NHS is heard and respected.'

'When our members speak, we listen, and they have spoken, 2.75% this year and the derisory amounts for the following two years will do nothing to enhance, let alone improve our members' standard of living.'

Amicus The Union