Health workers from Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust will march on a meeting of their employer’s board of directors and hand over a petition demanding fair pay tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
More than 2,500 people have added their names to the petition, calling for better pay to reflect the responsibilities of the staff.
Many healthcare assistants are on band 2 of the national Agenda for Change pay scale, but some are performing clinical duties – which fall under band 3.
Many healthcare assistants are required to work above paygrade and carry out band 3 tasks due to a shortage of nurses, says UNISON.
The workers should be paid at the correct rate for the job they are doing, and should be compensated for the work they’ve already done at band 3, the union says.
The march in Halifax is part of UNISON’s national “Pay Fair for Patient Care” campaign.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Gary Cleaver said: “Without healthcare assistants going above what they’re paid to do, the NHS would fall over.
“These workers are the people responsible for looking after loved ones when they’re ill. They’re simply asking to be paid for the work they’re doing.
“The march will show the trust’s board of directors that staff aren’t willing to pick up the slack any more.
“They do the job because they care about patients and want to help – but they’ve got to be paid fairly for doing so.”
