Union rejects Welsh NHS pay award and prepares for strikes
Unite union say NHS staff across Wales have voted to take strike action following a “poor” pay award.
Unite say its members have voted in heavy numbers to reject the pay award and indicated they are prepared to take industrial action, demanding that the Welsh government make improvements to their pay.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government in Wales needs to address critical problems now. And the biggest is the pay and conditions of frontline workers without whom the NHS cannot survive.
“Workers cannot wait any longer for decent pay and better conditions. Any further exodus from the workplace will simply see the NHS in Wales fail to function. The Senedd needs to come back with an improved pay offer before it’s too late.”
Unite say they’re now calling on the Welsh government to open up pay negotiations with unions. If negotiations on pay do not happen Unite say they will have no choice but to start the formal industrial action ballot process.
The union warns that any industrial action will affect a number of services, including ambulance services where Unite has particularly high membership.
Unite lead health officer for Wales Paul Seppman said: “Our sincere desire is to negotiate a better and much deserved pay increase for our members and NHS staff but our members are prepared to take action if there is no improved award.
“Morale in the NHS in Wales is at rock bottom. For over a decade staff have seen real terms cuts to their salaries and simply cannot take any more. The Welsh government must act now to rectify this situation.”
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