HUNDREDS of thousands of NHS workers voted to ballot for strike action yesterday if the Tories’ planned move to a seven-day week was paid for by cutting pay.

The Tories made the pledge last week, but failed to lay out how the move would be funded.

Now healthcare workers including nurses, paramedics, porters, cleaners, cooks, therapists and healthcare assistants at Unison’s annual health conference in Liverpool have given an overwhelming Yes vote to strike ballots if any government tries to remove unsocial hours payments.

“Any move to a seven-day NHS must not cost staff a penny,” said Unison head of health Christina McAnea.

“Our members made their views clear today. Come after our unsocial hours payments and we will ballot for industrial action.

“Once again the Tories want working people to pay the price of their austerity agenda.”