UNISON has confirmed that its members working in the NHS in England will stage a four-hour stoppage between 7am and 11am on Monday 24 November.
This will be followed by a week of action short of strike action between Tuesday 25 and Sunday 30November when members will work to rule and not do any unpaid overtime.
A recent Income Data Services (IDS) survey for NHS trade unions revealed that increased workload, low pay, constant restructures and the stresses of the job are among the reasons why two thirds (66%) of NHS workers have considered quitting.
Christina McAnea, UNISON head of health and chair of the NHS staff side trade unions, said:
“For many in the NHS, last month’s strike was a first. The next industrial action will be bigger as more unions will be joining it. Jeremy Hunt needs to listen to NHS workers who feel this Government is treating them with contempt.
“NHS workers are overworked and underpaid. Most patients would be shocked to know that one in five of the NHS workers who care for them need to do a second job just to survive and many have to borrow money every month to make ends meet or resort to foodbanks.”
The IDS survey of nearly 30,000 union members working in the NHS, including cleaners, radiographers, nurses and senior managers, revealed howworkers are feeling the strain as more than a third of respondents work unpaid overtime.
This was confirmed by four in five of the managers during in-depth interviews. Around half of managers feel unpaid overtime is causing problems with morale, motivation, fatigue and ‘burning out’.
The research also shows a growing number (62%) have to rely on extraearnings compared to 54% in 2012.
Christina McAnea added:
“Low morale is endemic. And this is echoed by a King’s Fund report out today which shows staff morale is now one of NHS finance directors’ top three concerns. Twice as many from the previous quarter.”
NHS workers took strike action over pay for the first time in 32 years on Monday 13 October. This was followed by a week of action short of strikeaction when members took their meal and rest breaks.
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Notes to Editors
The Income Data Services (IDS) report, produced for the NHS staff side trade unions, is available from the UNISON press office.
The report consists of an online survey of 29,975 NHS workers and 15 in depth interviews with senior NHS managers.
The research forms part of the staff side evidence to the independent NHS Pay Review Body. The data was collected between June and July 2014.
About the sample:
26% said they work as nurses
32% as administrative or clerical staff.
Around half of the 3,613 respondents working as allied health professions are radiographers or occupational therapists.
60% had reached the top of their pay band.
24% are employed on Agenda for Change band 5.
18% are employed on Agenda for Change band 6.
Almost half (49%) are aged between 31 and 50 and over a third are aged between 51 and 60.
Over three-quarters of respondents are female.
70% work full-time.
97% work for an NHS organisation.
