Hospitals face threat of strike action

Jul 19 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

WORKERS at Wirral’s two main hospital sites have voted for industrial action starting on Monday.

Members of Unite working at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals have voted by 93% for the action including strikes after the Trust imposed changes from weekly to monthly pay.

Unite Industrial Organiser Brian Nelson said: “Our members have been left with no option.”

Last night a spokesman for the hospitals said they planned to meet union officials on Monday to request that the industrial action is postponed to allow talks with ACAS.

Chris Tupman, a speech and language therapist at Halton PCT, added: “The deal that has been offered involved a clause for a review in 2009 but it’s still not on.”

Unite is also balloting its members on industrial action after 94.8% of its health sector workers – including health visitors, ambulance staff, hospital pharmacists, health care chaplains and many other healthcare professional and support services – voted to against the pay deal.

Unite's 12,000 ancillary and ambulance staff also rejected the pay deal in a separate ballot last month.

Gail Cartmail, Unite assistant general secretary, said: “Staff are angry and frustrated that they are effectively being told to take a pay cut by accepting this deal”