Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced further NHS strikes where members have an existing industrial action mandate.

Unite members at South Central, South East Coast and West Midlands ambulance trusts alongside workers at Christies NHS Foundation Trust, Christies Pathology Partnership, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust will all take part in industrial action on Tuesday 2 May.

Growing strike action

This follows the announcement yesterday that members at Guy’s and St Thomas and Yorkshire Ambulance Service will strike on Monday 1 May.

Unite’s consultative ballot on the government’s NHS pay offer ends on 28 April. The union has received strong indications that many members are unhappy with the deal and is therefore preparing further industrial action.

Not good enough

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has been upfront and honest that it did not believe that the pay offer was good enough for NHS workers. A lump sum payment and yet another real terms pay cut doesn’t meet the challenges faced by NHS workers.

“Where our members have indicated that they want to swiftly return to the picket line, Unite is ensuring they are able to do so.” 

No recommendation

Unlike other health unions Unite did not recommend its members to accept the government’s pay offer of a non-consolidated cash lump sum payment for 2022/23 and a five per cent increase for 2023/24, with the current real inflation rate (RPI) standing at 13.5 per cent this is a substantial real terms pay cut for NHS workers.

Clear reservations 

Unite national lead officer for the NHS dispute Onay Kasab said: “Unite had clear reservations about the government’s offer from the very outset. What is now clear is that our members hold similar views.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.