Industrial action could affect HRI and health staff

Dec 2 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HEALTH services in Huddersfield could be disrupted by industrial action.

Members of trade union Unite who work for the NHS are planning to work to rule tomorrow.

Ambulance staff, paramedics, mental health nurses, speech and language therapists, health visitors, school nurses, laboratory workers, bio-scientists and maintenance staff are among those who are unhappy about a three-year pay deal.

The union claims the Government ignored the results of an independent pay review and imposed a below-inflation deal.

Members, who often do unpaid over-time, will only work their contracted hours during the one-day protest.

Mike Routledge, lead officer for Unite in Yorkshire, said: “No one wants this action. It is a last resort.