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NHS staff stage four-hour strike | NHS staff stage four-hour strike |
(about 3 hours later) | |
NHS workers, including nurses, midwives and ambulance staff, are staging four-hour strikes in England and Northern Ireland as part of a pay dispute. | NHS workers, including nurses, midwives and ambulance staff, are staging four-hour strikes in England and Northern Ireland as part of a pay dispute. |
They are protesting about the decision not to implement a 1% rise for all staff recommended by a pay review body. | They are protesting about the decision not to implement a 1% rise for all staff recommended by a pay review body. |
Member of nine unions walked out at 07:00 GMT in England and will walk out at 08:00 GMT in Northern Ireland. | |
A Department of Health spokesman said it could not afford the rise without risking frontline jobs. | A Department of Health spokesman said it could not afford the rise without risking frontline jobs. |
Non-urgent care | Non-urgent care |
Unions say the industrial action is unlikely to affect urgent care, but pre-booked outpatient appointments and non-emergency surgery and operations could be delayed. | Unions say the industrial action is unlikely to affect urgent care, but pre-booked outpatient appointments and non-emergency surgery and operations could be delayed. |
The strike will be followed by up to six days of work-to-rule. Measures will include members claiming pay for extra hours or refusing to work overtime. And staff will take all breaks to which they are entitled. | The strike will be followed by up to six days of work-to-rule. Measures will include members claiming pay for extra hours or refusing to work overtime. And staff will take all breaks to which they are entitled. |
The decision follows a four-hour strike on 13 October, the first in the NHS over pay for 30 years. | The decision follows a four-hour strike on 13 October, the first in the NHS over pay for 30 years. |
Thousands of healthcare workers took part but disruption was minimised after the seven unions involved agreed staff would ensure emergency and urgent care were covered. | Thousands of healthcare workers took part but disruption was minimised after the seven unions involved agreed staff would ensure emergency and urgent care were covered. |
Two further unions have backed the second round of strikes. | Two further unions have backed the second round of strikes. |
The nine unions involved represent more than 400,000 staff and include: | The nine unions involved represent more than 400,000 staff and include: |
Members of the British Dietetic Association and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association are considering taking part in action short of strike action from 25-30 November. | Members of the British Dietetic Association and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association are considering taking part in action short of strike action from 25-30 November. |
Pay award | Pay award |
Ministers in England have awarded NHS staff a 1% increase, but only for those without automatic progression-in-the-job rises. | Ministers in England have awarded NHS staff a 1% increase, but only for those without automatic progression-in-the-job rises. |
Automatic pay rises are given to about half of all staff. They are designed to reward professional development and are worth 3% a year on average. | Automatic pay rises are given to about half of all staff. They are designed to reward professional development and are worth 3% a year on average. |
An independent pay review board had said the 1% increase should be across the board. | An independent pay review board had said the 1% increase should be across the board. |
It was implemented in full in Scotland. Northern Ireland has yet to make a decision on pay. Trade unions in Wales accepted a two-year pay deal set out by the government this month. | It was implemented in full in Scotland. Northern Ireland has yet to make a decision on pay. Trade unions in Wales accepted a two-year pay deal set out by the government this month. |
A Department of Health spokesman said: "NHS staff are our greatest asset and we want to make the current pay system fairer - which is why we have put forward proposals that would guarantee all staff would get at least a 1% pay rise this year and next, but these have been rejected by the unions. | A Department of Health spokesman said: "NHS staff are our greatest asset and we want to make the current pay system fairer - which is why we have put forward proposals that would guarantee all staff would get at least a 1% pay rise this year and next, but these have been rejected by the unions. |
"We have taken tough decisions to increase the NHS budget, but we can't afford a consolidated pay rise in addition to increments without risking 10,000 frontline jobs." | "We have taken tough decisions to increase the NHS budget, but we can't afford a consolidated pay rise in addition to increments without risking 10,000 frontline jobs." |
Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "This is not about our members demanding huge banker-sized bonuses, or asking for the similarly large bonuses and pay increases given to many senior managers in the NHS. | Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "This is not about our members demanding huge banker-sized bonuses, or asking for the similarly large bonuses and pay increases given to many senior managers in the NHS. |
"It is about our members having to fight just to get the very modest 1% pay award recommended by the NHS pay review body. | "It is about our members having to fight just to get the very modest 1% pay award recommended by the NHS pay review body. |
"It is also an award which still lags way behind the rising cost of living and will see our members earning the same in 2016 as they did in 2013." | "It is also an award which still lags way behind the rising cost of living and will see our members earning the same in 2016 as they did in 2013." |
Are you taking part in the strike? Have you been affected by the strike? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to talk to a BBC journalist, please supply a contact number. | Are you taking part in the strike? Have you been affected by the strike? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to talk to a BBC journalist, please supply a contact number. |
Have your say | Have your say |