RADIOGRAPHERS in Northern Ireland will go on strike today in the latest outbreak of industrial action against the British government's decision not to accept a recommended one per cent pay rise for all NHS staff.
Members of the Society of Radiographers across the UK will walk out for four hours from 9am and will work to rule for the rest of the week.
The action by diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy professionals is the first strike over pay since the early 1980s.
"Radiographers who work in the NHS in the four countries of the UK will take part in the action," said Richard Evans, the society's chief executive officer.
"This is the first time since 1982 that radiographers have gone on strike over pay and there is the possibility of more action in the future. The anger that they and other NHS workers feel is very strong.
"The last thing that radiographers want is to hurt the people that they serve.
"Steps have been taken to minimise the impact on patients. This disagreement between NHS staff and the government has been going on for a long time and radiographers have lost patience with an employer that they feel does not value the hard work that they do."
The strike follows a huge turnout at TUC organised protests in London, Glasgow and Belfast on Saturday highlighting the need for workers to be given a decent pay rise.