HEALTH workers are balloting for strike action after unanimously rejecting an “insulting” pay offer from the government.

A total of 94 per cent of GMB NHS members in the Southern Region have rejected the offer of a three per cent pay rise to nurses, paramedics, consultants and dentists.

The GMB Union, which campaigns for better working conditions, is demanding for an increase of 15 per cent or £2 per hour - whichever is highest.

In a statement, GMB said the Southern Region has met over 50 per cent turnout in key trusts.

This total is large enough to meet the threshold needed for key public service workers to be able to take industrial action.

“Therefore, we will meet our members' wishes and move towards a formal strike ballot,” the statement said.

The union says their campaign for a pay increase of 15 per cent is 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 NHS members in the south east have “said a big no thank you to Sajid Javid’s pay offer”.

“The results are clear,” he said. “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.”

In August, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “NHS staff are rightly receiving a pay rise this year despite the wider public sector pay pause, in recognition of their extraordinary efforts.

“We asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations, and I’m pleased to accept them in full, with a three per cent pay rise for all staff in scope, from doctors and nurses to paramedics and porters.

“We will back the NHS as we focus our efforts on getting through this pandemic and tackling the backlog of other health problems that has built up.

“I will continue to do everything I can to support all those in our health service who are working so tirelessly.”