Health staff campaigning for their roles to be regraded will play a leading role in negotiations with their employer Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, says UNISON today (Monday).
Healthcare assistants have been calling for their pay to be increased to reflect a significant change in responsibilities over the past few years.
Now the support staff have established a committee that will attend and take part in talks between trust managers and the union to resolve the issue.
Many healthcare assistants on band 2 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale carry out clinical tasks normally undertaken by workers on band 3 level or higher. UNISON believes staff should be paid the correct rate for the job they are doing, and should also be compensated for the work they’ve already done.
UNISON is pleased trust managers have committed to a proper process of negotiation, including fortnightly meetings with the union.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Sarah Brummitt said: “Healthcare assistants will be front and centre of the negotiations ahead.
“It’s really positive that managers are approaching this process with an open mind. The trust has made a commitment that the process will be fair and transparent, and promised to give every healthcare assistant an opportunity to discuss their role with their manager.”
UNISON Mid Yorkshire health branch chair Dave Byrom said: “This progress is not before time. Staff have been pushing for more than a decade for this regrade. Some were actually appointed at a higher level but downgraded to band 2 while their roles stayed the same.
“It’s been incredibly disheartening to see colleagues leave to work in supermarkets. Hopefully this commitment from the trust will finally see healthcare assistants feeling properly valued, and paid for the work they do.”
