Healthcare support workers at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Foundation Trust will stage two three-day strikes from next week after years of being underpaid for their work, says UNISON today.
More than 200 clinical support workers should be properly compensated for carrying out band 3 clinical tasks – such as blood monitoring, ECGs and patient observations – but only being paid at band 2 rates, amounting to around £2,000 a year less, the union says. Workers will take action next week (6 to 8 November) and the following week (13 to 15 November).
The trust, which runs the Lister, New QEII and Hertford County hospitals, has agreed to regrade the affected workers, but will only backdate the change in pay rate to January 2023, with a lump sum for length of service.
This would leave some staff thousands of pounds worse off than workers in other trusts where similar rebanding disputes have resulted in employers agreeing to backdate the upgrade over several years.
Staff are still trying all they can to avoid industrial action, says the union. UNISON and the trust have been in talks at conciliation service Acas this week, but no agreement has been reached.
UNISON Eastern regional organiser Cathrine Ward said: “These healthcare support staff are essential to the running of the NHS. But for years their bosses have been taking advantage of them, getting clinical care on the cheap.
“The trust has belatedly agreed to recognise their contribution but is still refusing to do the right thing and properly compensate them for the time they’ve been working above their grade.
“Staff don’t want to strike but they’ve been left with little choice. It’s up to senior managers to make a meaningful offer if they want to avoid industrial action.”
Katie, a clinical support worker at Lister Hospital, said: “We’re underpaid, overworked and deserve respect from our trust for undertaking years of Band 3 work at a Band 2 rate”.
“We’re the lowest paid in the NHS, earning just above minimum wage. I love my job and the patients, but I’ll be striking for the pay and conditions we’re rightfully owed in unity with fellow clinical support worker colleagues old and new.”
