Nottingham healthcare staff back strike action in pay row, says UNISON

Hundreds of healthcare assistants have voted for strike action in a row over pay, a union has claimed.

UNISON announced the outcome of a vote by University of Nottingham NHS Trust staff today (Wednesday 19).

94% of healthcare assistants at Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital backed strike action and are set to walk out unless hospital managers improve an offer on back pay.

According to NHS guidance, healthcare assistants on salary band two of the agenda for change pay scale should only be providing personal care, such as bathing and feeding patients.

However, most of the healthcare assistants have routinely undertaken clinical tasks, such as taking blood, performing electrocardiogram tests and inserting cannulas, says UNISON.

Helen, a healthcare assistant in Nottingham, said: “NHS staff risked their lives and those of our families to put others first during the pandemic, and continue to do so every day. But it's clear the trust doesn’t think workers are worthy of being paid what they’ve have rightfully earned.”

The union has set a deadline of Thursday, March 27, at 5pm, for University of Nottingham NHS Trust to engage in negotiations and provide a resolution.

If no agreement is reached, UNISON will issue strike dates.

UNISON East Midlands’ head of health, Gareth Eales, said: “Healthcare assistants want to continue providing exceptional care to people across Nottingham. However, they need to be fairly paid for their work.

“The majority of healthcare assistants have been working well above their salary band for years. It’s time the trust did the right thing and paid them properly for that work.”