SPEECH and language therapists are to join the nurses in threatening industrial action over lack of progress in pay talks.
The therapists' negotiations under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work broke down in November.
Speech therapists earn up to £13,487 a year less than other graduate health professionals. The maximum a therapist can earn at the top of the basic grade is £19,569: a principal speech therapist managing the service earns £22,332.
By contrast, a clinical psychologist earns £28,389 at the top of the basic grade and £35.819 on the principal grade.
The assistant general secretary of IMPACT, Mr Peter McLoone, said yesterday at the launch of Speak Week 96 that his union was holding regional meetings to discuss industrial action.
Mr McLoone said: "Speech and language therapists have shown incredible flexibility in the 14 years since the last pay review.
Yet they have received no financial reward for the growing complexity and skills required.
"The Department of Health's proposals, which would include dropping starting pay by 8 per cent, are unimaginative and unacceptable."
He said Impact would also consider taking an equal pay claim to the European Court of Justice.