Unite to hold industrial action ballot over NHS 'derisory' pay
1 October 2008
Thousands of NHS employees are being asked to
take industrial action in a pay protest ballot next month by Unite,
the largest union in the country.
Unite will be asking its members whether they
are prepared to take industrial action, including strike action, in
the ballot which commences on 28 October.
After the ballot closes on 12 November, Unite
will have a 28-day ‘window’ to take action that its members have
voted for.
Unite’s ballot is underpinned by a 95%
rejection by its members of the government’s unilaterally imposed
three-year pay deal, worth in total 7.99% - barely half the current
rate of inflation. It is further reinforced by a 75% vote in favour
of an industrial action ballot.
Unite’s National Officer for Health, Dave
Fleming said: ‘Having held activist meetings throughout the UK last
month, we are confident of a decisive ‘Yes’ vote for industrial
action in protest at the government’s ‘derisory’ pay offer.’
‘There is a real danger that this government
policy of falsely depressing public sector pay could continue for
many years to come – we can’t allow this to happen.’
‘Our action will not compromise the care of
sick and vulnerable people. Emergency cover will be provided
by Unite members at all times during any industrial action as
patient and client care is paramount.’
-ends-
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped to
4.7% in August - the highest level since records began in 1997. The
Retail Price Index (RPI) fell slightly to 4.8%, despite surging
food and energy costs – this was because the RPI takes into account
a wider range of indices, including the downward pressure on house
prices. The 2.75% being paid to NHS members this year is,
therefore, a pay cut.
For further information, please ring:
- Karen Reay, National Officer, Health, Unite, T: 07798 531
004
- David Fleming, National Officer, Health, Unite, T: 07798
531013
- Shaun Noble, Communications Officer, T: 020 7420 8951
(direct line), 07768 693 940
(mobile)
Unite has already launched a national petition
asking its health sector members, as well as the general public, to
sign the petition which its hopes to present to Downing Street
later in the year. The petition can be downloaded from http://www.unitetheunion.org/health
Unite is campaigning against the imposed
three-year NHS pay deal which will mean pay rises being barely
50% of the current rate of inflation. More information is available on the
'campaigns' page of the website
Unite/CPHVA press releases can be seen on
the CPHVA website: www.unitetheunion.org/cphva
Unite is the largest union in the UK. It
has seven professional sections: the Community Practitioners’
and Health Visitors’ Association, the Mental Health Nurses
Association, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, the Society of
Sexual Health Advisers, the Medical Practitioners’ Union, College
of Healthcare Chaplains, and the Hospital Physicists
Association.
Unite was formed by an amalgamation of
Amicus and the Transport and General Workers’ Union in May
2007.
