Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust needs to follow the lead of dozens of other trusts and pay its staff properly, says UNISON today (Friday).
The union’s call comes as some of the trust’s lowest-paid healthcare workers at its Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals take their 100th day of strike action today in a long-running row over pay.
Thirty-seven phlebotomists – people who specialise in taking patient blood samples – say they have been put on the wrong NHS pay band. They want to be regraded and given back pay to cover the extra duties they have been doing for years.
The phlebotomists began their action in March. Their complaint of being on the wrong grade is a common one and is the key aim of UNISON’s “pay fair for patient care” campaign.
Since 2021, more than 40,000 healthcare workers have received around £162m in back pay and more than £64m in salary increases.
Over 60 trusts and boards in England and Wales have agreed deals with the union that have seen NHS support staff put on the grade that matches their jobs and awarded compensation for incorrect wages paid.
UNISON says that, while employees were forced to take strike action at a quarter of those 60 trusts, none has allowed a dispute to drag on for as long as Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “Gloucestershire is looking like a rogue employer in its determination to go to any length to avoid paying staff fairly.
“NHS trusts up and down the country are doing the right thing by paying their staff properly for the work they do and giving them compensation for when they weren’t on the correct rate.
“Some healthcare workers have had to walk out to get their trusts to see sense. But others have won fair pay without it ever having to get that far.
“The bizarre and counterproductive approach adopted by senior executives at Gloucestershire is not only out of step with the rest of the NHS, but it clearly isn’t working either.
“The phlebotomists haven’t taken 100 days of strike action on a whim. They don’t want special treatment. They just want to be paid correctly for the valuable jobs they do. Their patients know how important they are – it’s time the trust recognised this too.
“Dozens of trusts have already settled disputes like this. There’s no reason why NHS workers in Gloucestershire should settle for any less than the thousands of employees who’ve already seen their pay improved thanks to their efforts and the union’s campaign.”
Notes to editors:
– Strike days taken so far by phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust this year: 17 to 19 March (three days), 24 to 27 March (four days), 31 March to 4 April (five days), 7 to 12 April (six days), 14 to 20 April (seven days), 21 April to date (75 days and counting).
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Dan Ashley M: 07789 518992 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Jack Horwood M: 07767 205080 E: J.Horwood@unison.co.uk
The article Time for “rogue” NHS trust to resolve 100-day blood specialists strike, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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