Strikes on 13, 14, 15 October

Submitted by Matthew on 24 September, 2014 - 11:47 Author: Gemma Short

The ballot over NHS pay in Unison returned a yes vote with 68% in favour of strike action and 88% of action short of strike action.

Unison has called a four hour strike in all NHS services, from 7-11am on October 13. This is a different day to local government workers, who will be called out on October 14, and PCS (civil servants), who will be out on the 15th.

It is good that Unison has shown leadership in calling action on a ballot with a low turn out. However many NHS staff who are not part of emergency cover work 9-5, meaning many will only be asked to strike for only two hours.

NHS pay has taken one of the biggest hits in the public sector. Health workers’ wages have dropped in real terms between 12 and 15 per cent since 2010. This year 60% of health workers are been offered no rise, and others will get one percent. The strike on October 13 will be important in raising the idea amongst health workers that this does not have to be the case.

Activists in the NHS should have conversations in their workplaces and Unison branches about what services should be exempt, and how to maximize numbers on strike. These conversations will also build understanding of the dispute in the workplace and collective confidence amongst members to take action.

The PCS (civil servants) union executive voted on 23 September to strike on 15 October. Strikes in the public sector will be spread across three days. This is not necessarily a bad tactic. However, workers may not feel as confident coming out in smaller groups.

Both Unison and PCS now have a concrete demand for pay. In local government Unison is demanding whichever is higher out of a £1 per hour increase, or the living wage. In the civil service PCS is demanding a £1200 or 5% pay increase. This goes some way to addressing the 8% pay cut suffered by workers in the last four years.

Activists in health already have concerns over the strategy the union will take. Many, in local government too, may fear their union leaderships leading them into a “deal” to wind down the action.

Activists should take control of the dispute, starting with organising strike committees in the run up to the strike days.

Strikers’ meetings will give workers an opportunity to discuss the dispute and make demands on the union leaders to call more action.

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