HEALTH workers in Pembrokeshire will walk out in a protest over pay on Monday, November 10.

Hywel Dda University Health Board's 3,700 Unison members, including nurses, porters, paramedics and cooks, will down tools between 8.30am and 12pm. This will be followed by four days of working to rule, where members will only work their contracted hours and will take all their breaks.

The action has been prompted by what the union described as the Welsh health minister's decision to ignore the NHS pay review recommendations for a 1% pay rise.

Instead, a one-off non-consolidated payment of £160 was offered to all staff. However, the union says the award will not count towards pension entitlements or shift pay and will not occur in future years.

Dawn Bowden, UNISON Cymru/Wales head of health, said: "NHS members don't take action often or lightly. For many of our members this will be the first time they walk out, as the last action over pay was 32 years ago. The NHS runs on the goodwill of its workers, but that goodwill is beginning to run low.

"Strike action is always a last resort, so we will continue our discussions with the employers and the Welsh government and urge them to put a revised offer forward that is worthy of consulting our members on.

"We will work to ensure that there is minimum impact for patients and all NHS Wales employers have been notified of our intention to strike."