Peter Lazenby
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HEALTH workers “facing the full force of the cost-of-living crisis” in Wales have been urged by their union to back strike action.
Public-sector union Unison said today that tens of thousands of its NHS and social care members are having to “take extreme measures just to survive” the effects of falling real wages, soaring energy prices and rampant inflation.
Workers are even withdrawing from pensions schemes and re-mortgaging their homes, the union said – and a proposed £1,400 pay increase from the Welsh government would be outstripped by energy price increases alone.
The union is to ballot its NHS members on strike action against the proposed increase.
Unison Cymru assistant convener Jan Tomlinson said: “Sadly the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is hitting many public-sector workers hard.
“These are unprecedented times. Many experienced staff will be lost to the NHS without urgent action.”
Unison Cymru head of health Hugh McDyer said: “Everyone should have the right to eat, heat their homes and feed their families.
“The pay award of £1,400 for health workers is nowhere near enough and leaves everyone in the NHS worse off.
“However the award is sliced, it’s a real-terms pay cut across every single NHS salary band.”
The proposed £1,400 increase would mean a 7.5 per cent rise for the lowest paid workers and 4.5 per cent for the higher paid.
CPI Inflation is hovering just below 10 per cent and is expected to continue to rise next month.
Unison Cymru will stage events at health board offices across Wales today calling for support for strike action.
