Health workers in South West celebrate double lump-sum victory

Hundreds of hospital workers in the South West are celebrating victory after NHS and Sodexo respectively committed to paying the lump sum bonuses due to them. The one-off payment, part of a deal agreed for all staff on NHS contracts and Agenda for Change, is worth at least £1,655 for full-time health workers. Wiltshire Staff at Wiltshire’s six community hospitals had taken two days of strike action (pictured above) over the company’s previous refusal to honour the payment, already given to health workers employed directly by the NHS in June 2022. Wiltshire Health and Care initially said it could not afford to pay the workers. After pressure from UNISON members, Wiltshire Health and Care successfully applied for funding from the Department of Health and Social Care. Wiltshire Health and Care is a Limited Liability Partnership, created in 2014 by three NHS trusts – Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. North Devon In North Devon, staff employed by Sodexo took two days of strike action (pictured below) in February over the company’s previous refusal to honour the payment. Sodexo workers picketing in North Devon In response, Sodexo offered to pay 80% of the sum while they awaited news on their application to the Department of Health and Social Care for the remaining 20%. UNISON members voted to suspend planned action for March and accepted their offer. Sodexo’s successful...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article health workers one team for patient care South West Source Type: news