HEALTH unions responded to the “insult” of a 1 per cent pay rise for nurses and other NHS staff with the threat of strike action today.
On the heels of a £30 billion cut to NHS funding, the government announced today that it would be enforcing a real-terms pay cut by tying the hands of the service’s pay-review body — provoking fury from health service workers and unions.
An emergency meeting of the Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN) leadership voted unanimously to set up a £35 million industrial action fund, while the Unite union said it would be considering balloting members for action.
Roger McKenzie talks to general secretary of Unison CHRISTINA McANEA about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on members, the local government funding emergency and the threat of Reform UK


