More than two dozen NHS workers at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford joined thousands up and down the country in walking out this morning in a row with the Government over pay.
Midwives, nurses and hospital porters, from seven unions, stood on the picket line for four hours this morning.
The strike, the first of its kind in the NHS in 32 years, and the first ever walk-out by midwives, was over a pay dispute in which staff demanded a one per cent pay rise, a figure recommended by the Independent Pay Review Body.
Staff will "work to rule" from Tuesday to Thursday rather than work any unpaid overtime.
Senior midwife and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) union rep Susan Alcide, who has been a midwife for almost 20 years, said: "This is the first time midwives have ever taken strike action. We all love our jobs, but we're under so much pressure.
"We're not getting paid what we're due, and that's wrong.
"There was an overwhelming yes vote to strike action from union members. Come 2016, we'll be on the same pay we were on in 2013. All we're asking for is 1 per cent."
As well as members of the RCM, members of trade union Unison, which include everything from occupational therapists to hospital porters, also took part in the industrial action.
"All the trusts in this region set aside one per cent to cover these pay rises, but the government said they couldn't afford it," said Tracey Lambert, the head of health for Unison in the east of England.
"The government says the country can't afford it – we say they can't afford not to pay it.
"In Essex NHS, in the next six to 12 months there is an incentive to recruit 1,000 staff from abroad because people are leaving as they can't afford to work here.
"So one per cent is a small price to pay to keep the staff."
