HCA staff strike over pay offer

Around 100 HCA staff who are members of the Unite union are expected to take industrial action alongside a wider strike organised by the Public and Commercial Services Union.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said: ‘Our members at HCA are showing solidarity with their HCA colleagues in PCS against the savage attack by the coalition on public services and those dedicated staff that deliver them.’

An HCA spokesperson said: ‘A limited number of HCA staff are taking industrial action, as part of a national day of union action. The HCA supports strong union representation among staff and we are confident of maintaining operational activity.’

Unite said members will be picketing HCA offices in central London and Manchester. They are joining around 120 members of the PCS in London, and Milton Keynes.

The PCS called a national strike on Budget day by its 270,000 members after a ballot in early March over the issue of cuts to jobs, pensions, and pay.