Health workers stage work to rule

1:43pm Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Health workers are to hold a day of action across the UK in protest at a "derisory" three-year pay deal worth around 8%.

Unite said the work to rule will include a ban on non-essential paperwork, email exchanges, attendance at meetings and telephone calls, affecting hospitals and health centres.

The union is calling on the Government to re-open negotiations over the pay of NHS workers, who face years of below-inflation wage rises.

Giving health workers a decent rise would boost consumer spending and would cost a fraction of the banking bail-out, officials argued.

Derek Simpson, joint leader of Unite, said: "I am pressing for an urgent meeting with Gordon Brown where I will raise the whole sorry saga of the Government's negative attitude to public sector pay, with particular reference to our NHS members."

National officer David Fleming said emergency cover will be maintained during the protest, adding: "Our members are struggling to keep up with the cost of living. This is the third year that our members have been forced to survive on below inflation pay rises.

"If the Government can find billions of pounds to rescue irresponsible banks, then it can find money to give hard working NHS staff a fair rise. Any extra cash in pay packets will have the added benefit of pumping demand into local economies."

Unite's health sector members have voted to take industrial action over pay, including strikes.

Mr Fleming said: "We have a mandate for this action and ministers should hear that our members are very angry at the continued below-inflation pay awards, in effect, pay cuts."