DISTRICT nurses working for Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board (NHSGGC) have overwhelmingly backed strike action in a dispute over grading.

Band six nurses at Scotland’s largest health board have long argued that their increasingly complex responsibilities should be reflected in a higher pay grade, prompting Unison, GMB and RCN to consult on industrial action.

Announcing that 96 per cent of Unison members back what would be their first strike in a local dispute since the 1980s, Scotland area organiser Henrietta Cameron warned they have “had years of delays and they’ve had enough.”

She added: “These nurses are committed to caring for their patients out in the community. Going on strike is the last thing they want to do.

“But they are determined to get a fair deal. Staff just want to be paid fairly. Senior managers must show these NHS staff the respect they deserve.”

Stating that the board “greatly value[s] the work of our district nurses,” an NHSGGC spokesman said: “We have recently met with trade unions and remain in dialogue as we seek a resolution to this matter.”