Category: Industrial action

Health workers in East Suffolk and North Essex launch strike appeal

On Monday 25 November, cleaners, porters, housekeepers and other facilities staff started three weeks’ worth of strike action to keep their jobs in the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

The dispute comes after the trust wrote to staff in April to tell them their jobs could be outsourced. In May, the chief executive of the trust, Nick Hulme, was filmed telling workers lobbying a board meeting that the decision to outsource had already been made.

Staff fear the sell-off will threaten their pay and conditions and pose a serious risk to patient safety.

As an example, outsourced staff in Ipswich get fewer days of annual leave and less sick pay than their colleagues directly employed by the NHS. They also missed out on the extra one-off payment of £1,655 that NHS staff received in the last financial year.

Now, more than 350 workers, employed at Colchester Hospital, Aldeburgh Hospital and several other ESNEFT community sites have walked out until Friday 13 December – or until the trust abandons plans to outsource their jobs.

They had already taken more than 20 days of strikes and ahead of this week’s strikes, staff had to hold a second ballot to renew their legal mandate to take industrial action. Workers again voted 99% in favour of strikes in results announced on Friday (22 November).

To support the strikers you can donate to their strike fund (details below) and you can also:

Sign the petition

Write to the board

How to donate to the strike appeal:

UNISON Colchester & Ipswich Area Health

UNITY Bank

Sort code: 60-83-01

Account number: 20403881

Reference: STRIKE

The article Health workers in East Suffolk and North Essex launch strike appeal first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Health workers in East Suffolk and North Essex launch strike appeal

On Monday 25 November, cleaners, porters, housekeepers and other facilities staff started three weeks’ worth of strike action to keep their jobs in the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

The dispute comes after the trust wrote to staff in April to tell them their jobs could be outsourced. In May, the chief executive of the trust, Nick Hulme, was filmed telling workers lobbying a board meeting that the decision to outsource had already been made.

Staff fear the sell-off will threaten their pay and conditions and pose a serious risk to patient safety.

As an example, outsourced staff in Ipswich get fewer days of annual leave and less sick pay than their colleagues directly employed by the NHS. They also missed out on the extra one-off payment of £1,655 that NHS staff received in the last financial year.

Now, more than 350 workers, employed at Colchester Hospital, Aldeburgh Hospital and several other ESNEFT community sites have walked out until Friday 13 December – or until the trust abandons plans to outsource their jobs.

They had already taken more than 20 days of strikes and ahead of this week’s strikes, staff had to hold a second ballot to renew their legal mandate to take industrial action. Workers again voted 99% in favour of strikes in results announced on Friday (22 November).

To support the strikers you can donate to their strike fund (details below) and you can also:

Sign the petition

Write to the board

How to donate to the strike appeal:

UNISON Colchester & Ipswich Area Health

UNITY Bank

Sort code: 60-83-01

Account number: 20403881

Reference: STRIKE

The article Health workers in East Suffolk and North Essex launch strike appeal first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Grimsby maternity support workers launch strike appeal

Maternity support workers at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby have just completed two weeks of strike action in their fight to secure proportionate back pay for carrying out clinical duties beyond their pay band for years.

Although the NHS trust re-banded them from Band 2 to Band 3 in October 2023, the trust is currently refusing to make an equitable offer of backpay.

As things stand, the current proposals would see some maternity support workers, who have nearly forty years’ service, and have worked high levels of unsocial hours, receiving less backpay than someone who has been at the trust for only four years.

The support workers took two days and then one week of strike action earlier in the year and started a two-week strike as of Monday 11 November. 

UNISON branch secretary Andrea Smith said: “The branch is so proud and fully supportive of the maternity support workers and how they have remained steadfast in their fight for fair backpay that is proportional to length of service.

“These are dedicated employees, not only to the patients but the trust they serve; it is not only about fairness but also it is morally the right thing to do. The branch would like to extend their thanks to the many members of the public, co-workers, and wider trade union colleagues in their various acts of kindness and support throughout the three periods of strike action.”

UNISON regional organiser Ashley Harper added: “The maternity support workers have shown amazing solidarity throughout their three rounds of strike action. Even though the temperatures were extremely low on the recent picket lines, spirits remained high – and they are resolute in their determination to secure a fair deal on backpay.

“Some of them were carrying out duties beyond their pay band for over twenty years, and it is time that the trust recognised this dedication by making them a fair offer.”

How to donate

Unity Trust

Sort Code: 60-83-01

Account Number: 20337627

Account name: Grimsby Goole Scunthorpe health branch

The article Grimsby maternity support workers launch strike appeal first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Grimsby maternity support workers launch strike appeal

Maternity support workers at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby have just completed two weeks of strike action in their fight to secure proportionate back pay for carrying out clinical duties beyond their pay band for years.

Although the NHS trust re-banded them from Band 2 to Band 3 in October 2023, the trust is currently refusing to make an equitable offer of backpay.

As things stand, the current proposals would see some maternity support workers, who have nearly forty years’ service, and have worked high levels of unsocial hours, receiving less backpay than someone who has been at the trust for only four years.

The support workers took two days and then one week of strike action earlier in the year and started a two-week strike as of Monday 11 November. 

UNISON branch secretary Andrea Smith said: “The branch is so proud and fully supportive of the maternity support workers and how they have remained steadfast in their fight for fair backpay that is proportional to length of service.

“These are dedicated employees, not only to the patients but the trust they serve; it is not only about fairness but also it is morally the right thing to do. The branch would like to extend their thanks to the many members of the public, co-workers, and wider trade union colleagues in their various acts of kindness and support throughout the three periods of strike action.”

UNISON regional organiser Ashley Harper added: “The maternity support workers have shown amazing solidarity throughout their three rounds of strike action. Even though the temperatures were extremely low on the recent picket lines, spirits remained high – and they are resolute in their determination to secure a fair deal on backpay.

“Some of them were carrying out duties beyond their pay band for over twenty years, and it is time that the trust recognised this dedication by making them a fair offer.”

How to donate

Unity Trust

Sort Code: 60-83-01

Account Number: 20337627

Account name: Grimsby Goole Scunthorpe health branch

The article Grimsby maternity support workers launch strike appeal first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Christina McAnea leads applause for successful UNISON strikers

There’s power in the union – particularly if that union is UNISON. That was the message at the heart of a speech this morning from general secretary Christina McAnea to UNISON’s national health service group conference in Brighton.

“Look at all you’ve achieved in the past 12 months”, she told delegates.

“Forty-two re-banding deals done across England and Scotland in our Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign. £70 million in back pay – and rising.

“A huge strike in Northern Ireland that forced politicians back into the Northern Ireland Assembly to sort out public sector pay – that’s the power of UNISON.”

Ms McAnea added that the union had live disputes in the South East, Eastern, East Midlands, Northern, North West, South West and London regions, together with live campaigns in Yorkshire and Humberside, West Midlands and Cymru/Wales.

“Our demands and action get results. We are transforming lives … That’s the power of UNISON.”

The big election year

“The Tories can go into the general election with a proud record to stand on. Forty brand new hospitals, a valued and appreciated workforce, NHS pay rises beyond your wildest dreams,” the general secretary quipped, to laughter from delegates.

More seriously, Ms McAnea stressed the need to get the Conservatives out of government and for Labour to replace them.

“While the Tories break promises and let down our most vulnerable in our society, UNISON says we can do better.”

Pointing out that UNISON has been campaigning for a National Social Care service, she said: “Until we fix the crisis in social care, we cannot fix our broken NHS.

“And when a National Care Service has been created – and I do believe it will be – we can look back together and say, ‘we did that – we were part of that’.

And Ms McAnea stressed that the workforce of the NHS – and of a future National Care Service – “should be given decent pay for a day’s work”.

There are also elections taking place in UNISON. Ballots for the service group elections open on 22 April and Ms McAnea urged delegates not only to vote themselves, but to return to their workplaces and persuade their fellow members to vote too.

Celebrating the power of the union

Health conference giving a standing ovation to representatives of successful UNISON strikes, plus a live relay of a picket line in Middlesbrough

After a standing ovation, the union’s acting head of health, Helga Pile, introduced representatives of successful strikes in health from across the union as they came to the front of the hall to join Ms McAnea. They were joined live online from a picket line at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, as conference rose to applaud and celebrate the power of UNISON.

The article Christina McAnea leads applause for successful UNISON strikers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Christina McAnea leads applause for successful UNISON strikers

There’s power in the union – particularly if that union is UNISON. That was the message at the heart of a speech this morning from general secretary Christina McAnea to UNISON’s national health service group conference in Brighton.

“Look at all you’ve achieved in the past 12 months”, she told delegates.

“Forty-two re-banding deals done across England and Scotland in our Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign. £70 million in back pay – and rising.

“A huge strike in Northern Ireland that forced politicians back into the Northern Ireland Assembly to sort out public sector pay – that’s the power of UNISON.”

Ms McAnea added that the union had live disputes in the South East, Eastern, East Midlands, Northern, North West, South West and London regions, together with live campaigns in Yorkshire and Humberside, West Midlands and Cymru/Wales.

“Our demands and action get results. We are transforming lives … That’s the power of UNISON.”

The big election year

“The Tories can go into the general election with a proud record to stand on. Forty brand new hospitals, a valued and appreciated workforce, NHS pay rises beyond your wildest dreams,” the general secretary quipped, to laughter from delegates.

More seriously, Ms McAnea stressed the need to get the Conservatives out of government and for Labour to replace them.

“While the Tories break promises and let down our most vulnerable in our society, UNISON says we can do better.”

Pointing out that UNISON has been campaigning for a National Social Care service, she said: “Until we fix the crisis in social care, we cannot fix our broken NHS.

“And when a National Care Service has been created – and I do believe it will be – we can look back together and say, ‘we did that – we were part of that’.

And Ms McAnea stressed that the workforce of the NHS – and of a future National Care Service – “should be given decent pay for a day’s work”.

There are also elections taking place in UNISON. Ballots for the service group elections open on 22 April and Ms McAnea urged delegates not only to vote themselves, but to return to their workplaces and persuade their fellow members to vote too.

Celebrating the power of the union

Health conference giving a standing ovation to representatives of successful UNISON strikes, plus a live relay of a picket line in Middlesbrough

After a standing ovation, the union’s acting head of health, Helga Pile, introduced representatives of successful strikes in health from across the union as they came to the front of the hall to join Ms McAnea. They were joined live online from a picket line at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, as conference rose to applaud and celebrate the power of UNISON.

The article Christina McAnea leads applause for successful UNISON strikers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Yoga instructors pose a strike problem for unbending council

Yoga, Pilates and aerobics instructors employed by Colchester City Council are to take strike action later this month after nearly a decade without a pay rise, UNISON announced today.The fitness instructors will walk out for seven days from Wednesday 28 February until Tuesday 5 March. Although the Leisure World and Northern Gateway Leisure Park trainers are directly employed by the council, they are not part of the same pay scheme as other staff.UNISON says unbending bosses at the local authority have refused to increase pay for yoga and Pilates coaches from £25 per session since 2015, while aerobics instructors have been earning just £22.50.The council initially rejected any rise for yoga and Pilates workers, proposing a mere £2.50 a time extra for aerobics trainers.But following a ballot of the instructors last month, in which 86% of the staff voted for strike action, the council increased its offer to £26 for all three disciplines, plus an element of performance-related pay.The fitness workers say this could still see them earning £4 a session less than instructors at neighbouring Tendring and Chelmsford councils.The instructors say the session rates don’t take account for the preparation and clear-up time involved in each class, as well as that spent with participants before and after each session. And UNISON says the proposed rise is still considerably lower than if the rate had kept pace with inflation.Melinda Harrison, an aerobics instructor at the council for the past nine years, said: “Every other employee has had a pay rise, but we’ve been completely ignored. It’s like we don’t exist. We don’t get reviewed. It’s like the council has forgotten us.“Ten years is a long time to go without a pay rise and the cost of living has shot up. It’s completely unfair to leave us out when everyone else has had a wage increase.”UNISON Eastern area organiser Emma Aboubaker said: “Fitness instructors aren’t immune to the rising bills and prices. They’ve been left with no option but to strike.“It’s now crunch time for the council. Bosses there need to get a jog on if they want to avoid strikes.”

The article Yoga instructors pose a strike problem for unbending council first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Yoga instructors pose a strike problem for unbending council

Yoga, Pilates and aerobics instructors employed by Colchester City Council are to take strike action later this month after nearly a decade without a pay rise, UNISON announced today.The fitness instructors will walk out for seven days from Wednesday 28 February until Tuesday 5 March. Although the Leisure World and Northern Gateway Leisure Park trainers are directly employed by the council, they are not part of the same pay scheme as other staff.UNISON says unbending bosses at the local authority have refused to increase pay for yoga and Pilates coaches from £25 per session since 2015, while aerobics instructors have been earning just £22.50.The council initially rejected any rise for yoga and Pilates workers, proposing a mere £2.50 a time extra for aerobics trainers.But following a ballot of the instructors last month, in which 86% of the staff voted for strike action, the council increased its offer to £26 for all three disciplines, plus an element of performance-related pay.The fitness workers say this could still see them earning £4 a session less than instructors at neighbouring Tendring and Chelmsford councils.The instructors say the session rates don’t take account for the preparation and clear-up time involved in each class, as well as that spent with participants before and after each session. And UNISON says the proposed rise is still considerably lower than if the rate had kept pace with inflation.Melinda Harrison, an aerobics instructor at the council for the past nine years, said: “Every other employee has had a pay rise, but we’ve been completely ignored. It’s like we don’t exist. We don’t get reviewed. It’s like the council has forgotten us.“Ten years is a long time to go without a pay rise and the cost of living has shot up. It’s completely unfair to leave us out when everyone else has had a wage increase.”UNISON Eastern area organiser Emma Aboubaker said: “Fitness instructors aren’t immune to the rising bills and prices. They’ve been left with no option but to strike.“It’s now crunch time for the council. Bosses there need to get a jog on if they want to avoid strikes.”

The article Yoga instructors pose a strike problem for unbending council first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Inflexible bosses keep yoga instructors’ pay down

Yoga, aerobics and Pilates instructors at Colchester City Council are voting on strike action after nearly a decade without a pay rise, UNISON has announced.The Leisure World instructors are all directly employed by the council, but their pay is determined differently to the scales used for other staff at the local authority.UNISON says inflexible bosses have kept yoga and Pilates rates at £25 per-session since 2015, refusing to even review this figure until last year.When the council did finally assess pay in August 2023, senior managers offered no rise at all, says the union.Aerobics instructors are paid £22.50 per session. Following the review, they rejected an offer of an extra £2.50, saying it fell a long way behind the levels paid to instructors for private training sessions, and was still nearly £5 lower than neighbouring Tendring Council.Instructors say the rate fails to recognise the long stretches of time they put into preparing classes. They say the time it takes to learn and devise routines, set up, clear up and answer queries from participants after sessions, means upwards of two hours’ work goes into each hour-long session.Workers have been left with no choice but to vote on strikes, says UNISON.

Melinda (pictured above, outside Leisure World) has been an aerobics instructor at the council for the last nine years, said: “All the instructors give 100% — we get there early and stay late.

“As a council worker, every other employee has had a pay rise and we’re completely ignored. It’s like we don’t exist. We don’t get reviewed. It’s like they’ve forgotten us.

“There are some instructors who work in the gym as personal trainers. They’ve had a pay rise every year for that, but when they come to teach a class, it’s been the same pay for 10 years.

“That 10 years is a long time – how much has the cost of living gone up? It’s completely unfair when everyone else in the building has had a pay rise.

“We’re the face of Leisure World, we keep thousands of people coming back. It’s time we were recognised for it.”

Yoga instructor Arlene, who has worked for Colchester Council since 2016, said: “It’s a wonderful community at Leisure World and the people taking classes are so supportive of each other.“But I don’t even reach the minimum wage for the classes I teach, with all the preparation that goes into them.“It doesn’t feel like we’re even considered to be working for the council. They’ve never increased the market rate. Everyone else in the building gets a pay rise but we’re forgotten.”

UNISON Eastern area organiser Emma Aboubaker said: “Instructors are bending over backwards to provide the best service they can for people trying to get fit and healthy in Colchester. But bosses can’t stretch to more than one pay rise a decade.“Fitness instructors provide a vital service for the city’s public health, but they’re also bringing paying residents into leisure centres. They deserve a proper pay rise.”

The article Inflexible bosses keep yoga instructors’ pay down first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Inflexible bosses keep yoga instructors’ pay down

Yoga, aerobics and Pilates instructors at Colchester City Council are voting on strike action after nearly a decade without a pay rise, UNISON has announced.The Leisure World instructors are all directly employed by the council, but their pay is determined differently to the scales used for other staff at the local authority.UNISON says inflexible bosses have kept yoga and Pilates rates at £25 per-session since 2015, refusing to even review this figure until last year.When the council did finally assess pay in August 2023, senior managers offered no rise at all, says the union.Aerobics instructors are paid £22.50 per session. Following the review, they rejected an offer of an extra £2.50, saying it fell a long way behind the levels paid to instructors for private training sessions, and was still nearly £5 lower than neighbouring Tendring Council.Instructors say the rate fails to recognise the long stretches of time they put into preparing classes. They say the time it takes to learn and devise routines, set up, clear up and answer queries from participants after sessions, means upwards of two hours’ work goes into each hour-long session.Workers have been left with no choice but to vote on strikes, says UNISON.

Melinda (pictured above, outside Leisure World) has been an aerobics instructor at the council for the last nine years, said: “All the instructors give 100% — we get there early and stay late.

“As a council worker, every other employee has had a pay rise and we’re completely ignored. It’s like we don’t exist. We don’t get reviewed. It’s like they’ve forgotten us.

“There are some instructors who work in the gym as personal trainers. They’ve had a pay rise every year for that, but when they come to teach a class, it’s been the same pay for 10 years.

“That 10 years is a long time – how much has the cost of living gone up? It’s completely unfair when everyone else in the building has had a pay rise.

“We’re the face of Leisure World, we keep thousands of people coming back. It’s time we were recognised for it.”

Yoga instructor Arlene, who has worked for Colchester Council since 2016, said: “It’s a wonderful community at Leisure World and the people taking classes are so supportive of each other.“But I don’t even reach the minimum wage for the classes I teach, with all the preparation that goes into them.“It doesn’t feel like we’re even considered to be working for the council. They’ve never increased the market rate. Everyone else in the building gets a pay rise but we’re forgotten.”

UNISON Eastern area organiser Emma Aboubaker said: “Instructors are bending over backwards to provide the best service they can for people trying to get fit and healthy in Colchester. But bosses can’t stretch to more than one pay rise a decade.“Fitness instructors provide a vital service for the city’s public health, but they’re also bringing paying residents into leisure centres. They deserve a proper pay rise.”

The article Inflexible bosses keep yoga instructors’ pay down first appeared on the UNISON National site.