Cut My Pay- No Way!
UNITE LAUNCHES PETITION TO RE-OPEN NHS PAY TALKS, AS INFLATION LEAPS
Public asked to sign in protest at ‘derisory’ pay deal
Unite, the largest union in the UK, has launched a national petition to reverse the government’s hard line stance on below-inflation pay awards for NHS staff.
The aim of the petition is to build up pressure so that the government re-opens negotiations with the trade unions and professional associations over the ‘derisory’ three year pay deal.
The deal, imposed unilaterally by ministers, amounts to 7.99% over three years, when the Retail Prince Index for inflation hit 5% this month (August).
Unite is asking its health sector members, as well as the general public, to sign the petition which its hopes to present to Downing Street later in the year.
The petition said that NHS staff deserve a ‘fair pay award’ and that the present deal is ‘poor reward for staff who deliver vital health care services to patients, service users and local communities, and it will cause long-term damage to the morale of NHS staff’.
It states: ‘At a time when people are experiencing significant rises in living costs they cannot avoid, the government should urgently re-open pay negotiations with the trade unions - we say Cut NHS Pay - No Way!.

For more information on the petition and a rally in Mancster to highlight the campaign at the Labour Party Conference click here to visit Unite's website

National Day of Action, 18th July

Unite members across the country took part in a day of protest against the NHS pay offer on the 18th July 2008. Workers campaigned around the slogan – ‘Cut my pay - No way!’.

A ballot of Unite’s health sector workers gave the union a strong mandate in favour of industrial action over the three year deal of 7.99%. Health visitors, hospitals pharmacists, health care chaplins, ambulance staff and members in many other health care professions and support services voted overwhelmingly with 94.8% turning down the pay deal. The union is angry that the government is telling them to accept a pay deal which in the current economic climate represents a significant pay cut. On the 18 July members demonstrated at hospitals across the country.

Unite step up NHS pay campaign

Unite, the largest union in the UK, will be ratcheting up its campaign against plans to impose a ‘derisory’ three-year pay deal on NHS staff.
The two health sections of Unite – T&GWU and Amicus – have set up a working group to discuss a programme for action, including a ballot for industrial action in the autumn.
Unite representatives met this week and expressed their continued anger at the government’s proposals for a 7.99% pay deal over the next three years – at a time of runaway food, petrol and utility price rises and more expensive mortgage payments.

Unite National Officer for Health, David Fleming said: ‘We will be seeking further meetings with ministers outlining our continuing anger and will, failing progress, be seeking an Early Day Motion in the next session of parliament outlining our continued opposition.’

’Industrial action in the autumn is certainly an option that Unite will be consulting its membership over, as will further action and protests.’

Julie Evans, Chair of the Unite (Amicus) Health Sector National Committee said: ‘Through our overwhelming ballot results to reject the derisory pay offer and pay band restructure, and through continued consultation and dialogue with all our professional and staff group members throughout the UK, our members continue to voice their anger and frustration that there has been a multi-year pay cut imposed on them which has been accepted by others.’
‘As a campaigning union, we will be continuing our dispute and will sustain a campaign up to and including industrial action to protest over this current pay agreement.’

Frank Keogh, Chair of the Unite (TGWU) NHS Committee said: ‘The combined health committees represent a large and diverse cross-section of NHS staff, and those staff are adamant that this awful deal is not in the interests of NHS staff. Unite members have spoken loud and clear. Our day of protest on 18 July was just the start of our campaign. We will continue to work together on a range of initiatives that will ensure the voice of Unite in the NHS is heard and respected.’

‘When our members speak, we listen, and they have spoken, 2.75% this year and the derisory amounts for the following two years will do nothing to enhance, let alone improve our members’ standard of living.’