NHS Unite Wales members have voted in a poll that they would prefer to take industrial action over the three per cent pay rise for NHS staff.

Unite Wales represent more than 6,000 NHS workers across multiple professions, including health visiting, estates and maintenance, healthcare science, mental health and speech and language therapy.

All members were asked in a consultative ballot if they would accept the pay rise or take industrial action.

Most have voted to reject the pay rise, with 64 per cent saying they would support a strike and 80 per cent saying they would take action short of a strike.

Richard Munn, lead officer for NHS in Unite Wales, said: "This consultative ballot clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling amongst Unite members.

"Unite members regularly express to us how angry they are about the three per cent pay increase.

"After working for 18 months in the most challenging conditions imaginable they are being offered a pay increase that does not even keep pace with inflation.

"‘Taken for granted’, ‘undervalued’ and ‘ignored’ are words frequently used by our members in the NHS to describe how they are feeling.

"The incredible pressures of Covid combined with 11 years of sub inflation pay increases have led to our members saying enough is enough.

"After months of lobbying Welsh Government on the issue of pay we are pleased to report that meaningful discussions have now started.

"It is too early to say whether a solution that will satisfy our members will emerge, but Unite is committed to fully engaging fully in these discussions.

"Our members are some of the most caring and self-sacrificing people in society and for them to get to the point where they are talking about industrial action, demonstrates quite how critical the situation is.

"Unite genuinely hopes that industrial action can be avoided but remains open to the possibility of holding a further industrial action ballot if it is required."

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The pay rise was announced in July this year with NHS workers in England being offered the same raise.

When the raise was announced, Eluned Morgan, minister for health and social services said: "This pay rise recognises the dedication and commitment of hardworking NHS staff and the enormous contribution they have made.

"It is also a recognition of how valued they are by Welsh communities."