Health sector union members are set to decide today what form of industrial action they want to take over the government’s three year pay deal.
Health sector members of Unite voted to take industrial action, over the "derisory" pay deal, voting by 76% to 23% to take industrial action.
There was a 53% vote in favour of strike action, with 45% against.
A joint meeting today of Unite’s Health Sector National Industrial Committee, attended by representatives from both the Amicus and TGWU sections, will agree the form the action will take.
Unite said the action would start before Christmas, but insisted that the welfare of patients and clients would not be compromised.
Unite’s National Officer for Health, David Fleming, said: "Whatever action our members take, emergency cover will be maintained at all times and the welfare of patients and clients will remain paramount."
He continued: "Our members were appalled and angry at the 7.99% three year pay deal imposed by the government in the spring. Inflation has now broken through the 5% barrier and their household bills are increasing on an almost daily basis."
Recent economic figures indicate that inflation has now peaked, with prices on certain foodstuffs and fuel set to fall, following a drop in the price of oil. And the Bank of England moved earlier this week to slash interest rates.
But David Fleming said that union members "were also upset that the government undermined the independence of the Pay Review Body by imposing its own settlement."
"The door is still open for the government to re-open negotiations on pay before any action commences and our members would welcome such an initiative," he said.
Unite’s Joint General Secretary, Derek Simpson commented: "The government’s stated aim of controlling inflation with public sector pay restraint was just wrong before. After the economic meltdown, it is completely ludicrous."
"Pay cuts will only make recession longer and deeper. It's time for the government to reconsider its policy on NHS pay."