
GMB southern region’s NHS members overwhelmingly vote NO on government’s pay offer – strike ballot will now happen
The Health Secretary must now meet with GMB Union to avoid a winter of chaos
A total of 94% of GMB NHS members in the Southern Region have rejected the ‘insulting’ pay offer from the Government.
The region has met over 50% turnout in key trusts, which is large enough to meet the threshold needed that key public service workers would need to be able to take industrial action.
Therefore, we will meet our member’s wishes and move towards a formal strike ballot.
GMB has been campaigning for a restorative increase of 15%, or £2 per hour (whichever is highest) to replace what has been lost from NHS pay packets over the last decade.
GMB was the only union to reject the last NHS pay deal in 2018.
Nick Day, Lead NHS Officer for GMB Southern Region, said:
“The results are clear. GMB members in the south of England have massively said a big no thank you to Sajid Javid’s pay ‘offer’. Therefore, the GMB now has a mandate to begin industrial action ballots.
“With the huge hike in energy bills, the National Insurance increases, the current rate of inflation and increased pension costs – this result is not a surprise. This along with keeping our NHS going through a pandemic was the last straw for NHS staff.
“They will not accept this pittance of an offer after ten years of pay restraint and the GMB position is clear – restore pay levels to where they should be.
“The time for goodwill in the NHS is over. Our members across in hospitals, ambulance station and across the NHS say no more.
“Sajid Javid has a huge choice to make – a winter of chaos or a chance to thank our NHS workers properly for their ongoing dedication.”
More in Community Building

A Growing Desire for Better Business
The Better Business Ecosystem is raising awareness and showcasing the wide variety of ways businesses can have a more positive impact on society, communities and the environment, by embedding great business practices across their companies.

Why joining a community of business leaders can enhance your reputation and credibility
I read a LinkedIn post recently that reassured business owners that if they’d managed to keep their businesses going during recession, Brexit, COVID and the cost-of-living crisis that they deserved a huge pat on the back and shouldn’t ‘beat themselves up’. Easier said than done when costs are rising and doing business seems to get harder rather than easier, but the sentiment was well-placed.

Why it’s important for Business Leaders to be exposed to new...
Nobody likes a ‘know it all’ and let’s face it, there’s no such thing. At the other end of the scale, many of us don’t create enough time to take on board new ideas, innovation and creativity in whatever format. How many times have you been recommended to read a book, get sent the link, go on Amazon, maybe even buy it but it just sits on your bookshelf? Come to think of it, as an aside, just think about that for a second….I wonder what the actual percentage of books purchased are actually read? Frightening thought!
From this author

B4 Members enjoy the company of a living legend of the...
In December at Keble College, Peter Bennett-Jones, representing the Lord-Lieutenant as one of her Deputy Lieutenants, officially endorsed Raise’24. As an established television and film producer and agent, we were delighted to recently announce that Peter has agreed to become our Patron.

Seven companies relocating to The Oxford Trust’s new Oxford Centre for...
Seven science and tech start-ups and SMEs are to move from The Oxford Trust’s current Oxford Centre for Innovation to its new location at Blue Boar Court, Alfred Street, in Oxford’s city centre.

The Numbers Don’t Lie
B4 Ecosystems are an opportunity for B4 Members to share challenges, be inspired and learn from experts in their field. They began with our Business Development Ecosystem back in March 2023, which has been lead from day one by the always impressive Caroline O’Connor of Fourth Born. Caroline has been leading from the front as our other Ecosystems learn from her impressive example. Article by B4’s Richard Rosser