Teesside and North Yorkshire healthcare assistants to strike
UNISON members are walking out from today until Thursday
More than 1,000 healthcare assistants across Teesside and North Yorkshire are striking today in a wage rates dispute.
UNISON members employed by North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are walking out at 8am today (Monday 8th April) and continue for 72 hours until Thursday 11th.
It is the second period of strikes following a 24-hour walkout last month which saw hundreds of staff leave their posts across seven sites operated by the two employers.
The action is part of a campaign to ensure staff are moved to a wage band more accurately reflecting the work they've been doing and secure a fair backpay settlement.
The workers have already overwhelmingly rejected an inadequate offer from the employer, which UNISON says failed to recognise the underpayment has continued for many years.
The union has offered to negotiate if the trust is willing to improve its offer, but both trusts have so far refused to do so.
According to NHS guidance, healthcare assistants on salary band 2 of the NHS’s Agenda for Change pay scale should only be providing personal care, such as bathing and feeding patients.
However, UNISON says most of the healthcare assistants have routinely undertaken clinical tasks that would normally be done by those on band 3, such as taking blood, performing electrocardiogram tests and inserting cannulas.
UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “Teesside Healthcare assistants are increasingly frustrated at their trust’s unwillingness to do the right thing.
“Both employers’ refusal to negotiate is only making workers more determined to carry on their fight for fair pay.
“Healthcare assistants have proudly served their community across Teesside for years. Many have worked above their pay band for far beyond the date they’re asking for.
“They feel disrespected and unvalued. The community, patients and colleagues have been overwhelmingly supportive.
“The strikes won’t stop until justice is done. Staff are becoming increasingly determined the trusts must do the right thing or they could permanently damage their relationship with their own workforces."
A spokesperson for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "We recognise and appreciate the huge contribution that healthcare assistants make to our patients.
“Since the elements of these roles were clarified nationally, we have been working closely with trade union colleagues to move our healthcare assistants to these grades where applicable. Our trusts support this move and the benefits to our HCA workforce and therefore have committed to back pay dating back to July 2021 - the date the national job profile for the clinical support worker role changed.
“During the strike action, we will once again be prioritising urgent and emergency care to protect patient safety and ensure those in life-threatening emergencies can receive the best possible care.
“If you have an appointment and we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
“People can help us by keeping A&E free to treat the most serious and life-threatening conditions. If you have an urgent but non-life-threatening medical need, please use NHS 111 online to find the right healthcare service for your needs.”
Where will the strikes be?
The strikes will involve the following hospitals:
- North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust: University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton-on-Tees; University Hospital of Hartlepool, Hartlepool.
-South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough; Friarage Hospital, Northallerton; Redcar Primary Care Hospital, Redcar; East Cleveland Primary Care Hospital, Brotton; Friary Community Hospital, Richmond.