Category: nhs strikes

Reacting to comments made this morning by health secretary Steve Barclay on the ambulance strike, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “People are already dying or getting sicker every day because the government’s let the NHS get into such a dire state.

“Ministers have sat back while ambulance response times worsened and waiting lists reached record highs. Ambulance services and the wider NHS no longer have the staff to provide safe patient care. And all this on the government’s watch.

“There’s a complete absence of a ministerial plan to tackle the worst staffing crisis in the history of the NHS. Steve Barclay’s stubborn refusal to boost pay is more damaging than he realises.

“The public wants ministers to treat NHS staff better and pay them more, as do many politicians on the government’s side. Trying to paint ambulance workers and their unions as the bad guys in this dispute won’t wash.

“People know it’s ministers who are recklessly putting lives at risk by refusing to negotiate. Unless the government commits to a proper wage rise this year, action will likely escalate in the new year.

“The health secretary must stop the insults and groundless accusations and take responsibility for solving this damaging dispute.”

Notes to editors:
– Details of UNISON’s picket lines are available here.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers putting lives at risk by refusing to negotiate first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Time might be running out before this week’s strike involving ambulance workers, but there’s a still chance of finding a resolution to the dispute and starting talks to improve NHS pay, says UNISON today (Monday).

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The government must stop using public safety fears as a smokescreen for its own inaction. There’d be no strikes at all if ministers would only talk to unions and improve NHS pay.

“It’s still not too late to get around the table and discuss a wage boost to benefit not just staff, but the NHS and its patients too.

“Although people will be anxious about what Wednesday means, emergency cover plans will be in place. These are drawn up by each ambulance employer, working with the unions. If the health secretary has any concerns, he should flag now so these can be dealt with locally.

“Better still, Steve Barclay should throw all his energy into preventing the strikes from going ahead this week and preventing any escalation of action in the new year.

“I’ve cleared my diary and would be happy to meet the secretary of state at any time to resolve the dispute no one wants.

“At some point, the government is going to have to get into talks to fix this. Ministers should do that now, avoid the strikes on Wednesday and what looks like inevitable escalation in the new year.”

Notes to editors:
-UNISON has concluded its discussions with ambulance employers on emergency cover to enable the services to provide the public with clear information ahead of Wednesday’s strike.
-UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Talk to unions, boost NHS pay and strikes won’t be necessary first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Commenting on suggestions that the NHS pay review body may be reconvened in response to strikes by health workers over their wages, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Thursday):

“There’s no need to start another long-winded evidence round. A wage boost is needed now, not months down the line.

“The last two of the pay review body’s recommendations sat on ministerial desks for months.

“Health workers won’t have any confidence in a repeat of the process that’s failed to deliver for them, the NHS or patients so far. Ministers are hiding behind the pay review body to wriggle out of any responsibility for the mess they’ve created.

“The only solution to the current unrest is for proper and genuine pay talks between the government and unions. Only then can the worsening crisis in the NHS be tackled. And that must start with a wage boost sufficient to convince experienced staff to stay.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Only direct talks will end NHS dispute, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Responding to ministers’ comments about the government’s continuing refusal to talk to unions about health workers’ pay, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Sunday):

“Ministers should stop making excuses and hiding behind the pay review body. Its recommendation is heavily influenced by government wages policy. 

“The facts are simple. The wage rise given to health workers this year simply hasn’t been enough to stop staff leaving in droves. Without enough employees in the NHS, patients will go on waiting too long for ambulances and for treatment to start.

“Instead of putting plans in place for the strike days, ministers should be concentrating all their efforts on ending the disputes.

“Speaking to unions about improving wages can work wonders as the Scottish government has found. It’s time ministers in Westminster did the same. They should stop talking tough, put a proper pay plan on the table and get the unions in to discuss it.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Government can stop strikes and strengthen NHS if it makes an effort with pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.