Nurses at Colchester hospitals are to be balloted over industrial action.
For the first time, members of the Royal College of Nursing will be asked to take part in the ballot on a possible work-to-rule move.
The action was started after nurses in England were denied the 2.5 per cent pay rise given to their colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for doing the same job. The rise was recommended by the independent pay review body but the Government decided to pay the award in two instalments, which the union claims reduces it to 1.9 per cent.
RCN rules mean members cannot take action which could be "detrimental to the wellbeing of patients" and so a strike would not be allowed.
Instead, members could refuse any unpaid overtime.
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