NHS strike and work-to-rule w/c Monday 24th November

NHS strike and work-to-rule w/c Monday 24th November

Trade Unions representing hundreds of thousands of NHS workers will be taking their second half-

day of strike action on Monday 24th November from 0700hrs-1100hrs. This will be followed by a

week of “working-to rule” in which hard-pressed and overworked NHS workers will take their full

breaks. UNITE members have voted to continue their “work-to rule” for 8 weeks until 18th January.

Sheffield NHS trade unions will be taking solid strike action on Monday morning whilst ensuring

emergency cover is provided. There will be two rallies with speakers outside both of Sheffielsd major

hopsitals – Northern General and Hallamshire- at 1000am for an hour beofre strikers go back to

work.

Rehana Azam, GMB National Officer, said: “This dispute arose when the government overruled the

independent NHS Pay Review Body, which had recommended an across-the-board pay rise. Health

workers have already endured several years of pay freezes and caps. They are understandably

angry and frustrated at the cavalier way they have been treated.”

UNISON’s webpage says “UNISON wants the NHS to be properly funded so that it can have enough

staff who are well motivated and fairly paid. Our campaign is for:

  •  immediate payment of the 1% consolidated sum to everyone, as recommended by the NHS Pay

Review Body

  •  the Living Wage of £7.65 an hour for low paid staff
  •  an above inflation pay rise for 2015-16
  •  a commitment to future pay rises that will restore the value of NHS pay.

UNITE’s National Officer Rachael Maskell said “The 1.35 million NHS workforce has been forced,

reluctantly, to take strike action on Monday as they have seen their incomes eroded by 15 per

cent since the coalition came to power in May 2010 – and we expect a strong turn-out buoyed up

by very welcome continuing public support, following the four hour action last month.”

This is the second week of industrial action in the NHS in an ongoing dispute over pay. The previous

week of action involved a four-hour strike on 13 October and action short of a strike on 14-17

October. The four-hour stoppage will be followed by action short of a strike from 11.01am (12.01pm

in Northern Ireland) on Monday to 23.59 on Sunday 30 November, with an overtime ban in the

ambulance service and other NHS employees working to their contracted hours.

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