Health service workers in England and Northern Ireland are preparing for a four-hour strike on Monday 24 November in protest at UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's refusal to speak to staff on pay, Unite has said.

"Multi-millionaire health secretary and the cabinet's richest member Jeremy Hunt has erected a 'Berlin Wall of intransigence' in refusing to talk to NHS staff on pay," the union has stated.

The strike also heralds the start of eight weeks of working to rule.

Unite head of health Rachael Maskell said: "As ministers ponder their departmental legacies as May's general election looms, Jeremy Hunt's ministerial epithet will be: 'I did not talk to hardworking NHS staff on pay'.

"We understand that MPs from all parties have been urging Hunt to start talks, but, so far, he is cowering behind a Berlin Wall of intransigence.

"The 1.35m NHS workforce has been forced, reluctantly, to take strike action on Monday as they have seen their incomes eroded by 15% since the coalition came to power in May 2010 – and we expect a strong turn-out buoyed up by very welcome continuing public support, following the four hour action last month."

In a letter to Jeremy Hunt today, Unite urged the health secretary to meet the unions to settle the dispute. "The tight financial situation is more severe in Wales than England, however, an outcome has been achieved," they said.

In England, the strike will run from 07:00 to 11:00 and in Northern Ireland from 08:00 till 12:00.

(IT/JP)