Around 350,000 NHS employees, including tens of thousands across the South East region, are being asked to vote for strike action over pay from today (Thursday), says UNISON.
Porters, nurses, security guards, paramedics, cleaners, midwives, occupational therapists and other NHS staff across the rest of the UK are joining 50,000 UNISON health employees in Scotland, whose strike ballot has been live since the beginning of the month.
UNISON said:
"The most pressing issue for the new prime minister and health secretary is without doubt finding a solution to the many problems affecting the NHS.
"If, as Rishi Sunak says, he wants to strengthen the NHS, ministers have no option but to build upon the rise of £1,400 awarded to health workers in England earlier in the summer.
"A second wage increase that better protects staff against the ravages of inflation, and helps the NHS hold on to the many leaving for more lucrative, less challenging jobs elsewhere, would make the world of difference."
Commenting on the strike ballot, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, said:
“Striking is the last thing dedicated health workers want to do. But with services in such a dire state, and staff struggling to deliver for patients with fewer colleagues than ever, many feel like the end of the road has been reached.
“The NHS is losing experienced staff at alarming rates. Health workers are leaving for work that pays better and doesn’t take such a toll on them and their families. If this continues, the health service will never conquer the backlog and treat the millions desperately awaiting care.
“It feels like the NHS is in the last chance saloon. But a vote for industrial action might be the jolt that convinces ministers to make the NHS the priority they say it is.
“Strikes across the NHS this winter are not inevitable. The government must start to tackle the growing workforce crisis with an inflation-busting pay rise and get the NHS back on the long road to recovery.”
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