Unite Wales will be holding a consultative ballot of its NHS Wales membership in opposition to the proposed imposition of a 3 per cent pay award for NHS staff. Unite has used the past few days to seek the views if its members and the reaction has been one of grave disappointment and anger.

Richard Munn, Unite lead officer for health, commented: “Our members within NHS Wales have reacted with extreme disappointment to the announcement that a 3 per cent pay award will be imposed on them. They have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and they now face a third wave, which will again put immense pressure on them, day in day out. The decade long UK government’s policy of austerity has led to a real terms reduction in wages and we believe it is now the time to redress this.

"Unite is hopeful that our Welsh Labour government will recognise that this pay award is inadequate. Our members certainly think that this is the case and we are confident that the Welsh public also share that view.

"Unite is calling upon the Welsh Health Minister, Eluned Morgan, to engage immediately with Unite and our sister trade unions in order to negotiate an improved pay offer, that truly recognises the incredible service that our NHS workers have given to the nation.

"Our NHS members are rightly angry at the moment and will not accept the imposition of the current pay offer without a fight. Unite will be holding a consultative ballot of its members to seek their views on the pay rise and over potential industrial action."

ENDS

For further information please contact Glyn Conolly on 07974 131771

Notes to editors:

  • Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.

Twitter: @unitewales