Category: Yorkshire and Humberside

West Yorkshire hospital workers win re-banding and thousands of pounds in back pay 

Many of the healthcare assistants working in A&E at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust have been on band two of the national Agenda for Change pay scale, but have undertaken clinical duties falling under band three for several years.

Thanks to UNISON, the workers have now been re-banded to band three and are set to receive around £3,000 in back pay.

The victory marks the latest success in UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, which has seen repeated re-banding wins across the country. 

Pay Fair For Patient Care calls for all band two staff with increased responsibilities to be paid at the correct rate for the job they are doing and for workers to be compensated for the work they’ve already done at band three level. 

The deal reached with the trust means more than 50 A&E staff across Calderdale and Kirklees will be moved to the higher band, as well as receiving back pay.

Kimberley Cundall-Mellor, who is one of the healthcare assistants due to receive this backpay, is thrilled by the union’s success. “We go above and beyond in every shift that we work, and being re-banded means that we’re being recognised and rewarded for the work we undertake for a patient’s care and the patient’s journey,” she said.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Gary Cleaver said: “This is fantastic news for workers who go above and beyond to keep the NHS running, but it’s long overdue. Finally, staff will be properly recognised for the work they do, and paid accordingly.

“This is just the first step in Calderdale and Huddersfield. It’s promising the trust has agreed to negotiations for healthcare assistants in other departments.

“UNISON will do everything possible to make sure those workers get the pay and respect they deserve.”

Managers at Calderdale and Huddersfield have agreed to enter negotiations with UNISON aimed at re-banding healthcare assistants in other departments in the new year.

Find out more about Pay Fair for Patient Care

The article West Yorkshire hospital workers win re-banding and thousands of pounds in back pay  first appeared on the UNISON National site.

West Yorkshire hospital workers win re-banding and thousands of pounds in back pay 

Many of the healthcare assistants working in A&E at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust have been on band two of the national Agenda for Change pay scale, but have undertaken clinical duties falling under band three for several years.

Thanks to UNISON, the workers have now been re-banded to band three and are set to receive around £3,000 in back pay.

The victory marks the latest success in UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, which has seen repeated re-banding wins across the country. 

Pay Fair For Patient Care calls for all band two staff with increased responsibilities to be paid at the correct rate for the job they are doing and for workers to be compensated for the work they’ve already done at band three level. 

The deal reached with the trust means more than 50 A&E staff across Calderdale and Kirklees will be moved to the higher band, as well as receiving back pay.

Kimberley Cundall-Mellor, who is one of the healthcare assistants due to receive this backpay, is thrilled by the union’s success. “We go above and beyond in every shift that we work, and being re-banded means that we’re being recognised and rewarded for the work we undertake for a patient’s care and the patient’s journey,” she said.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Gary Cleaver said: “This is fantastic news for workers who go above and beyond to keep the NHS running, but it’s long overdue. Finally, staff will be properly recognised for the work they do, and paid accordingly.

“This is just the first step in Calderdale and Huddersfield. It’s promising the trust has agreed to negotiations for healthcare assistants in other departments.

“UNISON will do everything possible to make sure those workers get the pay and respect they deserve.”

Managers at Calderdale and Huddersfield have agreed to enter negotiations with UNISON aimed at re-banding healthcare assistants in other departments in the new year.

Find out more about Pay Fair for Patient Care

The article West Yorkshire hospital workers win re-banding and thousands of pounds in back pay  first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Rotherham cemetery staff secure major pay victory

Cemetery maintenance staff in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, including gravediggers, have accepted a pay offer from their employer, UNISON announced today.

The workers, who are employed by private contractor Glendale Grounds Maintenance, have been involved in a long-running dispute over pay, but the company has finally put forward an offer that the staff have accepted.

The accepted offer will be in place for two years and means staff will be paid what was the real living wage – £10.90 per hour – at the time the offer was made, plus 20p, from 25 October, when the offer was accepted.

Staff will also receive the real living wage backdated to 1 April 2023, which amounts to over £400 for some of the lowest-paid workers.

Wages will also be updated in April next year to the revised real living wage, plus 20p.

Payments made to staff to be available if needed on weekends and bank holidays will also double, from £20 to £40 – and the rate for staff responsible for opening and closing cemetery gates will also increase.

The agreed pay rise means the lowest-paid workers will see their salary increase by almost 30% over the two-year period.

As a result of the deal, strike action planned for October and November has been cancelled.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Dan Wood said: “This is a fantastic outcome for staff who were sick of missing out simply because they’re employed by a private company rather than the council.

“Workers were ready to walk out to make their feelings known. Luckily, Glendale has seen sense and put forward an offer that staff are happy with, so the dispute can be put to bed.”

Rotherham branch secretary Ruth Askwith said: “Workers have stood up for themselves and got the result they wanted.

“It means they can now concentrate on doing the job they care passionately about – and will get a fair wage for doing it.”

The article Rotherham cemetery staff secure major pay victory first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Rotherham cemetery staff secure major pay victory

Cemetery maintenance staff in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, including gravediggers, have accepted a pay offer from their employer, UNISON announced today.

The workers, who are employed by private contractor Glendale Grounds Maintenance, have been involved in a long-running dispute over pay, but the company has finally put forward an offer that the staff have accepted.

The accepted offer will be in place for two years and means staff will be paid what was the real living wage – £10.90 per hour – at the time the offer was made, plus 20p, from 25 October, when the offer was accepted.

Staff will also receive the real living wage backdated to 1 April 2023, which amounts to over £400 for some of the lowest-paid workers.

Wages will also be updated in April next year to the revised real living wage, plus 20p.

Payments made to staff to be available if needed on weekends and bank holidays will also double, from £20 to £40 – and the rate for staff responsible for opening and closing cemetery gates will also increase.

The agreed pay rise means the lowest-paid workers will see their salary increase by almost 30% over the two-year period.

As a result of the deal, strike action planned for October and November has been cancelled.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Dan Wood said: “This is a fantastic outcome for staff who were sick of missing out simply because they’re employed by a private company rather than the council.

“Workers were ready to walk out to make their feelings known. Luckily, Glendale has seen sense and put forward an offer that staff are happy with, so the dispute can be put to bed.”

Rotherham branch secretary Ruth Askwith said: “Workers have stood up for themselves and got the result they wanted.

“It means they can now concentrate on doing the job they care passionately about – and will get a fair wage for doing it.”

The article Rotherham cemetery staff secure major pay victory first appeared on the UNISON National site.

There for You needs you!

UNISON's welfare charity is holding an election to find six trustees to direct its work The article There for You needs you! first appeared on the UNISON National site.