Hospital employees to go on strike due to dispute over unpaid wages

Hospital employees in Leeds are preparing to strike during the holiday season over unresolved pay issues, according to the union Unison. Theatre assistants at four hospitals managed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust voted to take industrial action after discovering they had not received appropriate pay for work performed at a higher grade than their current salary.

The duties in question included tasks such as counting swabs, inserting cannulas, collecting samples, and maintaining sterile equipment, which, the union stated, warranted higher pay rates.

Dr. Magnus Harrison, a representative from the trust, commented that the organization is "collaborating with theatre staff and staff-side representatives to resolve the issue promptly."

Unison confirmed the strike is planned for December, though an exact date has not yet been set. The action will involve approximately 70100 staff members. In a recent ballot, 75% of eligible members voted, and all participants supported the strike.

The union explained that affected staff were offered one year of back pay, while employees in other areas of the trust had received compensation going back to April 2021. Earlier this year, interim CEO Brendan Brown facilitated a settlement at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, providing five years of back pay, according to Unison.

Imogen Woods, Unisons area organiser for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "Staff are reluctant to strike, especially during the holiday season, but feel they have no alternative. They have been working above their pay grade for years, and fair compensation is long overdue." She added that hospital management must acknowledge the depth of staff frustration, stating: "Strike action could be avoided if proper payment for the work already completed is provided."

Dr. Harrison, chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, emphasised: "Its vital that our colleagues feel valued and able to voice concerns. We are working with theatre staff and representatives to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible while minimising any disruption to patient care."

Author: Sophia Brooks