2 October 2014

22,000 GMB members in England and Northern Ireland, including ambulance staff, district nurses, and cleaners were balloted on the industrial action.

78% of members voted in favour of a strike, and 91% of members voted in favour of action short of a strike.

GMB joins the Royal College of Midwives, Unite and Unison, who have all voted in favour of strike action and action short of a strike.

GMB national secretary for public services Brian Strutton said: “GMB members have spoken loud and clear. They are prepared to take industrial action in the NHS to fight for fairness in pay.”

“Nobody in the NHS wants to go on strike, but the anger and frustration of the workforce with the cavalier treatment by government and employers towards them has spilled over into industrial unrest.

“GMB and the other trade unions on the staff side hope this programme of action will get some movement in this deadlock and we will plan further periods of action through the autumn and winter if it does not.”

Staff will strike between 7am and 11am on October 13. It is the first walk out in 32 years.