Maternity support workers in Grimsby have unanimously voted in favour of industrial action in their campaign to secure fair back pay following their successful bid to go up an NHS salary band, UNISON says today (Wednesday).
Many of the healthcare workers at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust have been on band 2 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, but have regularly undertaken clinical duties falling under the higher band 3 for several years, says the union.
NHS trusts were told by Health Education England in 2019 that many maternity support workers were working above their pay grade and their roles should be reviewed. Although the Grimsby maternity workers have now been regraded by their employer, they’ve still not been offered the back pay they deserve, says UNISON.
The union is campaigning nationally for all band 2 staff with increased responsibilities to be paid at the correct rate for the work they are doing. UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign also calls for staff to be compensated for band 3 work already carried out.
However, senior managers at the Grimsby trust have failed to discuss the issue properly with UNISON, and are now refusing to meet with the union through negotiation and conciliation service Acas.
As a result, maternity support workers have been balloted for industrial action – with a unanimous vote in favour, adds UNISON.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Ashley Harper said: “Taking strike action is always a last resort. But the trust has left staff with no other option.
“Maternity support workers carry out hugely important work, yet they’re one of the lowest-paid groups in the NHS. They regularly carry out tasks above their wage grade, and deserve to be paid fairly.
“UNISON has repeatedly tried to talk to the trust, without success. It’s time for managers to get round the table and resolve this issue, so staff are paid for the work they do and strikes are avoided.”
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