THOUSANDS of health workers in East Lancashire are set to take further strike action this month as part of an ongoing national pay dispute.

Members of nine unions will walk out over the government’s decision not to accept a recommended one per cent pay rise for all staff.

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The four-hour strike will be on Monday, November 24, following a four-hour walk-out on October 13.

Christina McAnea, head of health at Unison and chair of the NHS workers’ unions, said: “For many in the NHS, last month’s strike was a first.

“The next industrial action will be bigger as more unions will be joining it.

“(Secretary of State for Health) Jeremy Hunt needs to listen to NHS workers who feel this Government is treating them with contempt.

“NHS workers are overworked and underpaid.

“Most patients would be shocked to know that one in five of the NHS workers who care for them need to do a second job just to survive and many have to borrow money every month to make ends meet or resort to foodbanks.”

But Mr Hunt said: “The majority of NHS staff get an automatic three per cent increment (pay increase on a fixed scale).

“But we can’t afford to give a one per cent rise to people already getting that.”