In a workplace consultative ballot members voted by a margin of 51.5 % to 48.5% in favour of accepting the revised offer. UCATT had recommend that members accept the revised pay offer

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “The narrow margin of acceptance should send a clear message that there remains serious pay problems for our members in the NHS. Skilled craft workers are receiving below inflation rises and their wages are falling far behind their fellow workers in the private sector.”

He added: “If these problems are not resolved in future pay negotiations than the NHS will cease to be able to recruit competent and skilled craft workers.”

UCATT members have been campaigning to be awarded the recruitment retention payments, which are paid to some maintenance workers. Also there remain serious concerns about their correct pay banding following the Agenda for Change reforms.