Unite ballot shows NHS staff overwhelmingly reject pay deal

Unite the union press release

For immediate release – 29 July 2029

Unite ballot shows NHS staff overwhelmingly reject pay deal

Staff prepared to take action over cuts

Unite’s ballot of members in health has demonstrated the strength of feeling among the NHS workforce with 89 per cent of members believe that the pay award (3.6%) is unacceptable and are prepared to take action up to including strike action. 

The strength of feeling around government cuts was even greater with 95 per cent of members expressing their willingness to take action in order to oppose cuts to the NHS.

We are calling on the UK government to meet with us and in order to avoid a strike that is likely to affect a number of Trusts (including Ambulance Trusts) and a number of national organisations such as NHS England and NHS Blood and Transplant.

The pay award offered to Agenda for Change NHS staff (i.e. most staff other than doctors) was below RPI and CPIH.  It is less than the award for doctors and it is less than that offered through negotiations in Scotland.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “When it came into power this government was clear that the NHS was broken. But staff are still leaving in droves and morale is still at an all time low. The NHS can’t be repaired while the government continues to erode pay and drastically cut NHS budgets.

"This pay award does nothing to reverse 15 years of real terms pay reduction. The lowest paid in the NHS will feel especially cheated because part of the award was paid out early in order to get them above the minimum wage. The fact that that needed to be done shows how far we are from where we need to be."

The consultative ballot and survey by Unite also found that two thirds of staff are already experiencing the real-life effects of cuts in their workplace. An overwhelming majority are prepared to take industrial action to oppose the further degradation of health services.

Unite national officer for health Richard Munn added: "On the issue of cuts our members are baffled - it is literal Orwellian doublespeak.  How can the NHS be “fixed” with thousands of staff at risk of losing their jobs?

"Unite members are not resistant to better use of technology, ill health prevention and health promotion or the move from hospital to community as outlined in the 10 year plan, provided skills and staff are not reduced.  However, to propose huge job losses on the scale suggested is completely nonsensical and smacks of headline grabbing politics as opposed to delivering better services.  It is no surprise that almost all members who voted are prepared to take action against cuts."  

Unite is committed to resolving this issue and will work with the government to do so, but given the lack of willingness from ministers to date, Unite will progress towards the next formal ballot we are required to carry out in order that we can take action. Our members have witnessed the NHS deteriorate for years and feel duty bound to take a stand to defend it.

ENDS

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite press officer Natasha Wynarczyk on 07970081524

Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org