Unite members protest outside Whipps Cross Hospital against the Tory NHS pay offer, 25.08.21. Photo: Isai Priya

Unite members protest outside Whipps Cross Hospital against the Tory NHS pay offer, 25.08.21. Photo: Isai Priya   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Health service members of Unite the Union in England have voted by 90% to reject the government’s 3% pay offer for this year.

Unite, which represents 100,000 members in the health service, will now plan for a “comprehensive programme” of targeted industrial action in the coming months.

The consultative ballot also highlighted that of the 90% rejecting the offer, a total of 84% were willing to take some form of industrial action. Unite said it would now be liaising with other health trade unions, all of whose members have also overwhelmingly rejected the offer, to coordinate pay campaign actions.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members in the NHS in England have voted overwhelmingly to show their disdain at what is effectively another pay cut for those who cared for the dying and sick during the pandemic.

“With the cost of living soaring and tax hikes on the way, Unite is determined to ensure the government thinks again and offers our NHS workers the fair and decent pay they undeniably deserve.”

Unite’s long-standing policy has been for a pay rise of £3,000 a year or 15%, whichever is greater for all health sector workers.