Clinical support workers set to strike for the first time in NHS history

Over 400 health staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) will take strike action tomorrow. The strike will take place from 7am on Thursday 31 August through to 6:59am on Saturday 2 September after an overwhelming majority (99%) of clinical support workers voted to strike in a recent UNISON ballot. Clinical support workers (CSW) are some of the lowest paid workers in the NHS. As roles have evolved and hospitals have struggled with staffing, they have taken on more clinical responsibilities without the pay and recognition to match. The clinical support workers are employed at band two but regularly perform duties at band three level. UNISON says these employees should be paid at least £2,000 more a year in recognition of the tasks they perform. The strike is the first in UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, which has seen thousands of workers rebanded to band three. In response to UNISON’s campaigning, seven health trusts across the North West have moved many low-paid CSW staff onto the higher rate, and paid the affected staff backpay from April 2018. Show your support for the strikers UNISON member Nikki has been a clinical support worker at WUTH for 19 years. She’s taking part in the strike tomorrow in the hope that it will bring about change: “I’m fed up with doing the work of a band three and only being recognised and appreciated as a band two. “It’s not just about the pay, it’s about being recognised. We’re no...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News health pay fair for patient care Source Type: news