Almost 900 clinical support workers in Sheffield are to receive back pay totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds to compensate them for years of performing duties above their wage grade, UNISON says today (Monday).
The healthcare assistants, who work in the accident and emergency department and on in-patient wards at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will also be rebanded to ensure they are paid correctly for the tasks they carry out.
The staff have been on band 2 of the NHS’s national Agenda for Change pay scale, but have regularly undertaken clinical duties falling under band 3 for several years, says UNISON.
The union’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign is working to see all band 2 staff with increased responsibilities are paid at the correct rate for the work they do. The campaign also calls for the employees to receive back pay to compensate them for work already completed.
UNISON is committed to ensuring other clinical support workers in the trust are also rebanded and paid what they’re owed.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Ashley Harper said: “This is brilliant news for hundreds of clinical support workers who play a vital role in keeping the NHS running.
“It’s fantastic to see so many finally being paid fairly for the work they do. But there’s more work to do.
“It’s now vital to make sure other band 2 staff working above their pay grade are also rebanded and compensated.”
UNISON Sheffield Teaching Hospitals branch secretary John Campbell said: “This is welcome news for hundreds of staff, but there are a considerable number who’ve been working above their pay grade yet to be rebanded.
“This result for staff in A&E and in-patient wards is just the start.
“The union’s job now is to ensure other band 2 clinical support workers in the trust also receive back pay and are rebanded.”
