Wrexham Radiographers Take Part In NHS Strike Over Pay

Radiographers across Wrexham have taken part in a national strike action over pay this morning.

Members of the Society of Radiographers who work in the NHS began their industrial action at 9am this morning, with the strike expected to finish at 1pm this afternoon.

The action is being taken by members of the Society and many other NHS trade unions because of an ongoing pay freeze. The government rejected a recommended 1% pay rise for the current year and Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary for England, has said that there will be no increase in 2015. The pay freeze will have been imposed for four out of five years.

Today’s radiographer strike is the first to take place in 30 years.

One Radiographer told Wrexham.com: “An independent pay review body has recommended a 1% pay increase but the government have rejected it and are refusing to negotiate with unions.”

In September voting papers were sent to members of the Society of Radiographers across the UK asking them if they will take industrial action against the NHS.

53.7% said they were prepared to take part in strike action and 78.9 % said they would take industrial action short of a strike. 41% of SoR (Society of Radiograpers) members who were eligible to vote participated in the ballot.

The SoR represents 28,000 people who work in diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer. More than 19,000 radiographers work in the NHS.

The vote was held by the SoR because of a continuing pay freeze in the NHS, the fourth in the past five years. Other health service trades unions have also voted to strike over the issues, which include the government’s rejection of a recommended 1% pay rise for the current year.

Today radiographers in the Wrexham Maelor were seen outside the hospital showing their support for the industrial action. Staff taking part today were seen holding signs stating: ‘Fair Pay for NHS Staff’, ‘What Sort of Service Do You Want’ and ‘Striking For Fair Pay’.

Speaking earlier this month regarding the industrial action, Society’s Chief Executive Officer said: “It is very unusual for radiographers to vote for industrial action and this vote shows the anger they feel.

“Working people in the NHS have had to accept decreasing standards of living for long enough. Pay has been eroded by inflation and the government year-after-year has refused even the smallest of increases.

“In real terms, radiographers and many millions of others who work in the NHS, have taken a pay cut and there is no increase planned for next year either.”