Category: rebanding

Wirral hospitals strike paused as workers win back pay after lengthy campaign

A strike planned for next week by more than 500 clinical support workers (CSWs) at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been called off after the employer agreed to UNISON’s demand for five years of back pay, says the union today (Friday).

The development follows a UNISON campaign over several months, during which workers were on strike for 13 days ahead of the latest offer.

The staff are employed at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals.

Clinical support workers on band 2 of the NHS’s Agenda for Change pay scale should only provide personal care such as bathing and feeding.

However, UNISON says most CSWs at the two hospitals have routinely undertaken clinical tasks, such as taking and monitoring blood, performing electrocardiogram tests and inserting cannulas, for many years.

According to NHS guidance, staff performing these duties should be on salary band 3, which is nearly £2,000 a year more.

Seven health trusts in the North West have already moved these workers to the higher rate and backdated their pay to April 2018.

Last month, East Cheshire and Mid Cheshire trusts also agreed to move their staff up to salary band 3 and provide the same back pay.

In August, support workers employed on the Wirral became the first in the country to take strike action over this issue.

They were due to walk out for a further ten days from Monday (6 November).

However, the trust met with a group of clinical support workers and UNISON officials yesterday (Thursday) with a fresh offer that includes back pay to April 2018 for those who have performed duties above their band.

In response, the workers have agreed to call off next week’s strike to allow further discussions. Strikes planned for the week commencing 13 November remain, although these dates will be reviewed following negotiations between UNISON, affected staff and the trust.

UNISON North West UNISON regional organiser David McKnight said: “This is an important breakthrough allowing further talks to take place.

“The trust’s offer of back pay to April 2018 is recognition of the years of hard work put in by clinical support workers to serve the Wirral community.

“These are among the lowest-paid workers in the NHS and it’s shameful so many trusts taken advantage of their goodwill for so long. It’s time for other employers with live strike action, including Warrington and Halton, to step up and make the same offer.

“Strikes have been tough, but workers were determined to win what they were owed. They should be proud of their achievement.”

Arrowe Park Hospital clinical support worker Tracey said: “We’re over the moon that the extra duties we’ve taken on over the years have been recognised.

“It’s disappointing it took 13 days of strikes for us to get here, but our resolve was never in doubt. We’ve been determined to get what we deserve.

“We’re grateful to our colleagues and the entire Wirral community for supporting us throughout this campaign.”

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Striking isn’t a choice made lightly, but Wirral health workers were committed to getting the right wages for countless extra duties they’ve shouldered over the years.

“Despite their tireless work for the community, especially through the pandemic, their employer wasn’t paying them fairly.

“But their determination has paid off. They’ve won well-deserved recognition and the extra wages they’re owed.”

Notes to editors:
– Strikes took place on 31 August; 1, 25, 27 and 29 September; 7, 8, 9 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 October.
– Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust remains the only North West trust in dispute with UNISON, after failing to meet the campaign demands. Strikes are ongoing with walkouts today (Friday), Monday and Tuesday (6 and 7 November).
– 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 contact:
Sam Doherty M: 07443 507046 E: s.doherty@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Wirral hospitals strike paused as workers win back pay after lengthy campaign first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Wirral hospitals strike paused as workers win back pay after lengthy campaign

A strike planned for next week by more than 500 clinical support workers (CSWs) at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been called off after the employer agreed to UNISON’s demand for five years of back pay, says the union today (Friday).

The development follows a UNISON campaign over several months, during which workers were on strike for 13 days ahead of the latest offer.

The staff are employed at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals.

Clinical support workers on band 2 of the NHS’s Agenda for Change pay scale should only provide personal care such as bathing and feeding.

However, UNISON says most CSWs at the two hospitals have routinely undertaken clinical tasks, such as taking and monitoring blood, performing electrocardiogram tests and inserting cannulas, for many years.

According to NHS guidance, staff performing these duties should be on salary band 3, which is nearly £2,000 a year more.

Seven health trusts in the North West have already moved these workers to the higher rate and backdated their pay to April 2018.

Last month, East Cheshire and Mid Cheshire trusts also agreed to move their staff up to salary band 3 and provide the same back pay.

In August, support workers employed on the Wirral became the first in the country to take strike action over this issue.

They were due to walk out for a further ten days from Monday (6 November).

However, the trust met with a group of clinical support workers and UNISON officials yesterday (Thursday) with a fresh offer that includes back pay to April 2018 for those who have performed duties above their band.

In response, the workers have agreed to call off next week’s strike to allow further discussions. Strikes planned for the week commencing 13 November remain, although these dates will be reviewed following negotiations between UNISON, affected staff and the trust.

UNISON North West UNISON regional organiser David McKnight said: “This is an important breakthrough allowing further talks to take place.

“The trust’s offer of back pay to April 2018 is recognition of the years of hard work put in by clinical support workers to serve the Wirral community.

“These are among the lowest-paid workers in the NHS and it’s shameful so many trusts taken advantage of their goodwill for so long. It’s time for other employers with live strike action, including Warrington and Halton, to step up and make the same offer.

“Strikes have been tough, but workers were determined to win what they were owed. They should be proud of their achievement.”

Arrowe Park Hospital clinical support worker Tracey said: “We’re over the moon that the extra duties we’ve taken on over the years have been recognised.

“It’s disappointing it took 13 days of strikes for us to get here, but our resolve was never in doubt. We’ve been determined to get what we deserve.

“We’re grateful to our colleagues and the entire Wirral community for supporting us throughout this campaign.”

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Striking isn’t a choice made lightly, but Wirral health workers were committed to getting the right wages for countless extra duties they’ve shouldered over the years.

“Despite their tireless work for the community, especially through the pandemic, their employer wasn’t paying them fairly.

“But their determination has paid off. They’ve won well-deserved recognition and the extra wages they’re owed.”

Notes to editors:
– Strikes took place on 31 August; 1, 25, 27 and 29 September; 7, 8, 9 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 October.
– Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust remains the only North West trust in dispute with UNISON, after failing to meet the campaign demands. Strikes are ongoing with walkouts today (Friday), Monday and Tuesday (6 and 7 November).
– 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 contact:
Sam Doherty M: 07443 507046 E: s.doherty@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Wirral hospitals strike paused as workers win back pay after lengthy campaign first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals vote to strike after years of being underpaid

More than 400 health staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) have voted for strike action over pay, says UNISON today (Friday).

An overwhelming majority (99%) of clinical support workers voted to strike in a recent UNISON ballot. Industrial action is now imminent unless the trust makes an improved offer to staff, says the union.

Clinical support workers (CSWs) deliver essential care alongside nursing staff on the wards. They’re employed across the trust’s sites at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals on the Wirral.

UNISON says these employees should be paid at least £2,000 more a year because they are performing duties and tasks well above their pay grade.

The NHS says that CSWs on a low pay band* like those at WUTH should only be undertaking personal care like supporting patients with going to the toilet, bathing and feeding.

But a survey by the union has found that most CSWs at the bottom of the band 2 pay scale are routinely undertaking clinical tasks like taking and monitoring blood, electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, and inserting cannulas.

UNISON says that according to NHS job role profiles, all these duties should be paid according to at least a band 3 salary, which is nearly £2,000 a year more.

A total of seven health trusts across the North West have moved many?low-paid CSWs staff onto the higher rate, and paid the affected staff backpay to April 2018. This is in response to campaigns by UNISON.

However, WUTH has refused to draw up a similar agreement, despite a collective grievance signed by over 400 staff.

Instead, the trust has offered to backdate pay to their CSWs to December 2022. This would mean these employees would receive thousands of pounds less than those in other North West trusts.

A petition in support of the workers, addressed to trust chief executive Janelle Holmes and chair Sir David Henshaw, has received more than 1,600 signatures.

UNISON North West regional organiser David McKnight said: “Clinical support workers want to provide exceptional care to people across the Wirral. But the trust has exploited the goodwill of dedicated staff by getting them to provide care on the cheap.

“The workers have been reasonable throughout. They’ve submitted a collective grievance and met with the trust many times to try to resolve the situation.

“The majority of CSWs have been working well above their band for many years. It’s time the trust did the right thing and paid up to avoid strike action.”

Deborah, a clinical support worker at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: “Staff feel taken for granted. These clinical tasks are part and parcel of the job and the hospitals wouldn’t function if CSWs didn’t work above their pay grade.

“It looks like WUTH will be the first trust in the country where it will take strike action to resolve this issue. It shouldn’t have come to this. No one wants to strike but staff are determined and ready to fight for what they deserve.”

Sarah, a clinical support worker at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: “This job requires a high level of compassion for our patients, so voting for strike action was a difficult decision.

“But if we need to strike to get fair pay and recognition then one hundred per cent we will. Dedicated, skilled, compassionate people are leaving to take better paid jobs elsewhere.

“The trust has underpaid us for years and it really hurts that managers won’t acknowledge this. We won’t stop until we get what we’re owed.

“For me and many others, five years is a small fraction of what has been decades-long service.”

Notes to editors:
–*Band 2 CSWs should only undertake personal care duties according to NHS guidance. They are currently paid £22,383 annually whereas band 3 staff earn between £22,816 and £24,336 after two years in the job.
– Click here for images of the workers campaigning outside the trust’s headquarters.
– The trusts that have resolved the issue over CSW pay are: the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust; Stockport NHS Foundation Trust; Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; the Christie NHS Foundation Trust; and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.
– 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:
Sam Doherty E: s.doherty@unison.co.uk M: 07432 459759
Liz Chinchen E: press@unison.co.uk M: 07778 158175

The article NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals vote to strike after years of being underpaid first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals vote to strike after years of being underpaid

More than 400 health staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) have voted for strike action over pay, says UNISON today (Friday).

An overwhelming majority (99%) of clinical support workers voted to strike in a recent UNISON ballot. Industrial action is now imminent unless the trust makes an improved offer to staff, says the union.

Clinical support workers (CSWs) deliver essential care alongside nursing staff on the wards. They’re employed across the trust’s sites at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals on the Wirral.

UNISON says these employees should be paid at least £2,000 more a year because they are performing duties and tasks well above their pay grade.

The NHS says that CSWs on a low pay band* like those at WUTH should only be undertaking personal care like supporting patients with going to the toilet, bathing and feeding.

But a survey by the union has found that most CSWs at the bottom of the band 2 pay scale are routinely undertaking clinical tasks like taking and monitoring blood, electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, and inserting cannulas.

UNISON says that according to NHS job role profiles, all these duties should be paid according to at least a band 3 salary, which is nearly £2,000 a year more.

A total of seven health trusts across the North West have moved many?low-paid CSWs staff onto the higher rate, and paid the affected staff backpay to April 2018. This is in response to campaigns by UNISON.

However, WUTH has refused to draw up a similar agreement, despite a collective grievance signed by over 400 staff.

Instead, the trust has offered to backdate pay to their CSWs to December 2022. This would mean these employees would receive thousands of pounds less than those in other North West trusts.

A petition in support of the workers, addressed to trust chief executive Janelle Holmes and chair Sir David Henshaw, has received more than 1,600 signatures.

UNISON North West regional organiser David McKnight said: “Clinical support workers want to provide exceptional care to people across the Wirral. But the trust has exploited the goodwill of dedicated staff by getting them to provide care on the cheap.

“The workers have been reasonable throughout. They’ve submitted a collective grievance and met with the trust many times to try to resolve the situation.

“The majority of CSWs have been working well above their band for many years. It’s time the trust did the right thing and paid up to avoid strike action.”

Deborah, a clinical support worker at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: “Staff feel taken for granted. These clinical tasks are part and parcel of the job and the hospitals wouldn’t function if CSWs didn’t work above their pay grade.

“It looks like WUTH will be the first trust in the country where it will take strike action to resolve this issue. It shouldn’t have come to this. No one wants to strike but staff are determined and ready to fight for what they deserve.”

Sarah, a clinical support worker at Arrowe Park Hospital, said: “This job requires a high level of compassion for our patients, so voting for strike action was a difficult decision.

“But if we need to strike to get fair pay and recognition then one hundred per cent we will. Dedicated, skilled, compassionate people are leaving to take better paid jobs elsewhere.

“The trust has underpaid us for years and it really hurts that managers won’t acknowledge this. We won’t stop until we get what we’re owed.

“For me and many others, five years is a small fraction of what has been decades-long service.”

Notes to editors:
–*Band 2 CSWs should only undertake personal care duties according to NHS guidance. They are currently paid £22,383 annually whereas band 3 staff earn between £22,816 and £24,336 after two years in the job.
– Click here for images of the workers campaigning outside the trust’s headquarters.
– The trusts that have resolved the issue over CSW pay are: the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust; Stockport NHS Foundation Trust; Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; the Christie NHS Foundation Trust; and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.
– 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:
Sam Doherty E: s.doherty@unison.co.uk M: 07432 459759
Liz Chinchen E: press@unison.co.uk M: 07778 158175

The article NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals vote to strike after years of being underpaid first appeared on the UNISON National site.