Striking health workers will be joined by senior union leaders and supporters today (Monday) to highlight the longest-ever walkout by NHS employees as phlebotomists in Gloucestershire mark their 236th day of industrial action, says UNISON.
The 36 specialist staff, who take and handle blood samples from patients, have been on strike since March in a dispute over their demand to be paid fairly for the skills and expertise needed for their roles, says the union.
Putting them on to the right pay band would cost their employer, the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, approximately £60,000 per year, says UNISON. It would also recognise the valuable contribution the workers make to health services across the county, adds the union.
UNISON has calculated that the cost of ensuring all the trust’s phlebotomists are on the correct wages is just a quarter of chief executive Kevin McNamara’s annual salary for 2024/25 of around £245,000*.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak and other union leaders will join staff and supporters of the phlebotomists from across the South West at a rally taking place today in Gloucester at the Shire Hall at 11am today (Monday). Other speakers include phlebotomist Caroline Hayhurst and UNISON Gloucestershire Hospitals branch secretary Francis O’Ryan.
The dispute could end immediately, says UNISON, if the trust agreed to pay staff the additional £1.09 per hour that would take them to the correct pay band. Similar disputes elsewhere in the NHS have been resolved without needing to resort to industrial action.
But the trust has persistently refused to grant the increase for phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals, causing ongoing disruption to services and patients.
Despite losing 236 days’ pay, the workers remain determined to win the recognition they deserve, says the union.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It takes a lot of skill to put patients at ease and get them through an experience that makes many people go weak at the knees.
“But these essential workers are unfairly being paid the lowest rate in the NHS. That in no way reflects the very skilled work they do. Everyone apart from senior managers can see that this is wrong.
“The trust should stop being so bloody-minded and pay these dedicated staff what they’re due.”
UNISON South West regional secretary Kerry Baigent said: “The phlebotomists are standing up not just for themselves, but for every health worker who’s been undervalued and overlooked.
“It’s time the trust listened and ended the longest strike of NHS workers in history.”
Notes to editors:
– Christina McAnea and Paul Nowak will join others at the rally from 11am today (Monday 17 November) outside Gloucester Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester (GL1 2TG).
– *Kevin McNamara’s salary is detailed at p118 of the trust’s annual report and accounts 2024/25. The report shows his total remuneration for the year was more than £430,000.
– Phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been on strike since 17 March 2025, making this the longest-running strike of NHS workers in history.
– Agenda for Change (AfC) job evaluation guidance sets out the criteria for NHS staff bands. UNISON says the phlebotomists’ knowledge, skills and experience meet the requirements for the band 3 salary scale.
– 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:
Jack Horwood M: 07767 205080 E: j.horwood@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
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