(10 October 2014) Health worker representatives from more than 20 countries across Europe meeting in Brussels yesterday sent out a clear message of support and solidarity to the health unions in England taking industrial action next week.
The EPSU Health and Social Services Committee recognises the level of anger that has lead to massive levels of support for the action. This is not only in the UNISON, Unite and GMB trade unions but also in the Royal College of Midwives where members voted with a four-to-one majority to back strike action for the first time in their 133-year history. Other unions will be showing their support by requesting their members not to take over work from striking colleagues and working to rule.
EPSU affiliates also note that like many of their colleagues around Europe health workers in England have been facing a lengthy period of cuts and reorganisations while seeing their pay fall steadily behind inflation, with earnings on average down 15% in real terms over five years.
The pay deal on offer is divisive. A minority of workers would get a lump sum equivalent to 1% of pay. The unions want 1% for all with a living wage for the low paid (£7.65 an hour) and a commitment to future increases in line with inflation.
Recruitment and retention is a major challenge right across Europe and the situation will only deteriorate if nothing is done to improve the pay and conditions of the hard-pressed and committed workers who deliver our health services. The EPSU Health and Social Services Committee believes that successful strike action will deliver a well-deserved pay increase for over a million workers in England and will send out an strong message that health unions have had enough of austerity and pay freezes and are determined to fight to get what they deserve.
Further information on the dispute
The four trade unions, UNISON, Unite, GMB and RCM have voted for four hours of strike action on Monday 13th October followed by industrial action short of a strike on the following four days. The action short of a strike will mainly involve working strictly to contractual hours and duties.
The NHS employers have offered only a 1% payment to workers who are at the top of their pay scale. This means that 60% of workers will not get an increase at all and rest get a lump which is not consolidated into their pay.
The unions are calling for a 1% increase for all workers plus a minimum rate equal to the living wage (£7.65 an hour). They also want a commitment to an above-inflation increase in 2015-2016 and then further increases to compensate for the loss of purchasing power.
The dispute currently involves the NHS in England. The NHS in Scotland has already agreed to a 1% increase. The NHS in Wales has made a different offer and unions are balloting or consulting their members over this. The NHS in Northern Ireland has not yet made a recommendation.
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