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For the second time this year, as many as 400,000 health workers in England will take strike action for four hours from 7am today* (Monday) in protest at the government’s refusal to grant them a pay rise.

For the second time this year, as many as 400,000 health workers in England will take strike action for four hours from 7am today* (Monday) in protest at the government’s refusal to grant them a pay rise.

Before last month’s day of action on 13 October there had not been a national strike over pay in the NHS for over 30 years.

Nurses, midwives, paramedics, radiographers, consultants, managers, hospital porters and cleaners, administrative, catering and maintenance staff, and other health service workers will be on strike today.

They are angry that the government continues to ignore the recommendation of the independent pay review body and is denying NHS workers a pay rise.

By the end of the next financial year, health workers will have had their pay capped for six years, says the TUC.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady will be heading to a picket line at the London Ambulance Service (220 Waterloo Road, SE1 8SD) at 8am on Monday morning. She will join UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis so they can both show their support for health workers taking part in the pay protest.

Commenting on today’s strike, Frances O’Grady said: “Health workers care passionately about their patients and the quality of service they provide, and so are always reluctant to take action.

“But the government’s refusal to accept the recommendations of NHS independent pay review body – even though it only called for an affordable, below-inflation pay rise – leaves health workers feeling that they have no other option.

“It’s not too late for the government to change course and award health workers the pay rise the public knows they deserve.”

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “The anger is spreading and so is the public support for health workers’ cause. The strength of feeling is far from fading and the dispute far from going away.

“If the Secretary of State seriously thinks staff are the NHS’ best asset then he needs to treat them fairly. We are only asking for decent pay for the hardworking people the government says it cares so much about.”

Frances and Dave will be met on the picket line on Monday morning by UNISON Branch Secretary Eric Roberts and his paramedic colleagues who work for the London Ambulance Service (LAS). Frances and Dave will be outside the main gates on the picket for approximately half an hour from 8am.

NOTES TO EDITORS:
- *Members of the Society of Radiographers will be on strike for four hours from 8am.
- In England nine unions – UNISON, Unite, GMB, the Royal College of Midwives, Managers in Partnership, the Society of Radiographers, the British Association of Occupational Therapists, the Prison Officers Association and UCATT will be striking for four hours from 7am on Monday. This will be followed by action short of a strike (taking proper breaks, only working their contracted hours) from Tuesday to Friday. For the rest of the week the nine unions will be joined by the HCSA and the BDA, whose members are also working to rule.
- Unions say that by 2015/2016 NHS staff will have had their pay capped for six years. Pay was frozen in 2011 and 2012, and then limited to a one per cent increase in 2013. NHS workers are angry that the government is continuing to hold down their pay despite the improving economic situation. In an imposed two year pay deal, only employees who are at the top of their pay grade will receive a one-off pay increase – again capped at one per cent this year and two per cent next.
- Last week the health unions in Wales accepted a two-year pay deal.
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols M: 07876 452902 E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Mary Maguire M: 07771 548957 E: m.maguire@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07908 377215 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

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