NHS workers and ambulance staff in Hampshire and Wiltshire could strike over pay dispute
GMB Union balloting all members
Last updated 11th Nov 2021
Members of a Union from across Hampshire and Wiltshire's NHS hospital and ambulance trusts could go on strike over pay.
It's after more than 90% of GMB's members rejected a government offer for a 3% pay rise in September.
Members of 55 trusts including Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, South Western Ambulance Service and South Central Ambulance Service will be asked whether they support industrial action.
In March NHS staff across the country were offered a1% pay rise which was heavily criticised following the strain of the pandemic.
The government later offered a 3% rise backdated to April 2021 after accepting recommendations from the pay review body.
The GMB want a "restorative" increase of 15% or £2 an hour, whichever is highest, to "replace what has been lost from NHS pay packets over the last decade.
Nick Day, Lead NHS Officer for Southern Region, said:
“Despite an 94% rejection of the paltry pay offer by GMB members back in September - there has been no hint of an intervention to try and resolve this dispute by the government.
“We therefore today open our strike ballot for GMB members across 55 NHS Trusts in South East, South London. Dorset and Wiltshire - and call on members to support industrial action.
Nick Day says members have endured a decade of "pay rises bellow the cost of living."
“With the upcoming rise in National Insurance, the soaring cost of fuel and energy and the lack of resources and staff in our NHS, they have said enough is enough.
“We will only get a resolution to this when the Government makes a serious attempt to engage. Until then the only choice is progress with the GMB’s industrial action ballot.”
The ballot closes on the 15th December.
Any industrial action would take place in the New Year.
Salisbury District Hospital isn't commenting.
Greatest Hits Radio has contacted both South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and South Central for comment.