HUNDREDS of workers at a healthcare watchdog have voted to strike against their 10th pay cut in a row.

Around 200 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), employed by the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in Manchester and London have voted to strike against an imposed 2 per cent rise.

The Star understands that this is the 10th beneath-inflation pay rise for staff, who make the final decisions on complaints that are not fully resolved by NHS bodies.

This is despite senior management figures at the ombudsman receiving regular pay rises, including a 4 per cent rise for this year.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members in the PHSO have not taken this decision lightly. They have tried to negotiate a fair deal.

“However, management have shown utter contempt for their situation and imposed a pay cut on hardworking staff.

“Strike action is now a very real possibility unless management see sense and get back to negotiating a fair and just settlement.”