Pension reforms protest by NHS workers

NHS financial staff will go out on strike this week in protest against planned health pension reforms.

More than 100 workers from NHS Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Lothian will take part in the industrial action tomorrow, with hundreds of other staff expected to join them over their lunch breaks.

The strike, by Unison Scotland members, will cause disruption to preparations for the end of the financial year, which unions hope will put pressure on the Scottish Government to meet them to discuss the planned rise in contributions of up to 2.4%.

L i l i a n Mac e r, the convener for Unison Scotland and the Lanarkshire health branch, said the action is aimed at causing disruptions without impacting on patient care. She said: “We don’t want to impact on patient care so we have consultedwithourmembers and come up with a number of selective strikes.

“We’re targeting management and putting pressure on the Scottish Government and Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon to meet with us to discuss the planned contributions increases.”

If the Scottish Government breaks with the UK reforms, it is likely Holyrood would have to pick up the tab for any shortfall.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “While we have made clear that we do not support strike action, we remain opposed to Westminster’s plans for pensions. That is why we are taking a different approach and are willing to discuss changes to t h e Wes t mi n s t e r proposals.”