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LONDON, September 4LONDON, September 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Unite, the country's largest union, are being canvassed on a menu for industrial action to reverse the government's hard-line stance on below-inflation pay awards for NHS staff.
A series of meetings are being held across the UK this month to give Unite activists the opportunity to say what type of industrial action they would be prepared to take in protest at the 'derisory' three-year 7.99% below-inflation pay deal imposed by the ministers.
Unite's National Officer for Health, Dave Fleming said: "At the meetings we have held so far, there has been a real sense of anger and frustration at the inability of government to recognise the dedication and hard work of health service professionals.
"This coupled with the soaring cost of living highlighted by the Retail Prince Index, which saw inflation hit 5% last month, is the engine driving the demand for industrial action under the banner of our Cut NHS Pay - No Way! campaign.
"Once we have collated all the feedback from the meetings we will then be balloting our members for industrial action, offering them a menu of options they may wish to take. Our campaign is underpinned by our members voting overwhelmingly to reject the pay deal earlier in the summer."
Meetings coming up include: West Bromwich (5 September); Esher (9 Sept); London (10 Sept); Nottingham (12 Sept); Glasgow (19 Sept); Belfast (24 Sept) and also in Wales.
Unite has already launched a national petition asking its health sector members, as well as the general public, to sign, which its hopes to present to Downing Street later in the year. The petition can be downloaded from http://www.unitetheunion.com/health
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